L'Elisir d'Amore, Met's 2012-2013 Season Opening Gala Premiere, Met, NYC 24. Sep 2012

L’ELISIR D'AMORE
Gaetano Donizetti -- Felice Romani

Met’s 2012-2013 Season Opening Night Gala Premiere
Met, New York City 24. Sep 2012

LEADING TEAM
Maurizio Benini: Conductor
Bartlett Sher: Stage Director
Michael Yeargan: Set Designer
Catherine Zuber: Costume Designer
Jennifer Tipton: Lighting Designer

CAST
Anna Netrebko: Adina
Matthew Polenzani: Nemorino
Mariusz Kwiecien: Belcore
Ambrogio Maestri: Dulcamara
Anne-Carolyn Bird: Giannetta
Chorus and Orchestra of the Metropolitan Opera

PRESS REVIEWS
Met season opener: "L'Elisir", reviewed - Anne Midgette - The Washington Post - 2012-09-25
Met opera opens season with sweet "Elisir" - Mike Silverman (AP) - The State - 2012-09-25

VIDEOCLIPS
Anna Netrebko, Matthew Polenzani and Mariusz Kwiecien at L'Elisir d'Amore Act I trio dress rehearsal on 20. Sep 2012. Video provided by The Metropolitan Opera

Anna Netrebko and Matthew Polenzani at L'Elisir d'Amore dress rehearsal on 20. Sep 2012. Video provided by The Metropolitan Opera

Met Opera Pannel Discussion with Anna Netrebko, Piotr Beczala and Mariusz Kwiecien on 17. Mar 2012

A Met Opera Pannel Discussion with opera stars Anna Netrebko, Piotr Beczala and Mariusz Kwiecien, on the occasion of the upcoming Massenet's Manon performances at the Met, was held on 17. Mar 2012.

Erwin Schrott will be Dulcamara in the last shows of L'elisir d'amore at the Met

The Met has announced that Erwin Schrott will sing the role of Dulcamara in the last four performances of Donizetti's L'elisir d'amore, featuring Anna Netrebko as Adina, Matthew Polenzani as Nemorino and Mariusz Kwicien as Belcore.

L’Elisir d’Amore, Met, New York City, 30. Jan 2013 – Anna Netrebko (Adina), Matthew Polenzani (Nemorino), Mariusz Kwiecien (Belcore), Erwin Schrott (Dulcamara), NN (Giannetta); Bartlett Sher (Director), Chorus and Orchestra of the Metropolitan Opera, Maurizio Benini  

L’Elisir d’Amore, Met, New York City, 2. Feb 2013 – Anna Netrebko (Adina), Matthew Polenzani (Nemorino), Mariusz Kwiecien (Belcore), Erwin Schrott (Dulcamara), NN (Giannetta); Bartlett Sher (Director), Chorus and Orchestra of the Metropolitan Opera, Maurizio Benini  

L’Elisir d’Amore, Met, New York City, 6. Feb 2013 – Anna Netrebko (Adina), Matthew Polenzani (Nemorino), Mariusz Kwiecien (Belcore), Erwin Schrott (Dulcamara), NN (Giannetta); Bartlett Sher (Director), Chorus and Orchestra of the Metropolitan Opera, Maurizio Benini  

L’Elisir d’Amore, Met, New York City, 9. Feb 2013 – Anna Netrebko (Adina), Matthew Polenzani (Nemorino), Mariusz Kwiecien (Belcore), Erwin Schrott (Dulcamara), NN (Giannetta); Bartlett Sher (Director), Chorus and Orchestra of the Metropolitan Opera, Maurizio Benini

Anna Netrebko will open the Met's 2012-2013 Season

The Met has already officially announced the 2012-2013 season and an on-line brochure is available.

Anna Netrebko will open the Met's 2012-2013 season on 24. Sep 2012 as Adina in a new Bartlett Sher's production of Donizetti's L'elisir d'amore with Matthew Polenzani as Nemorino, Mariusz Kwiecien as Belcore and Ambrogio Maestri as Dulcamara (Sep/Oct). It has not been announced yet who will sing the role of Dulcamara on the second part of the run in Jan/Feb. The performances will be conducted by Maurizio Benini.

L’Elisir d’Amore, Met’s 2012-2013 Season Opening Night Gala Premiere, Met, New York City, 24. Sep 2012 – Anna Netrebkoª (Adina), Matthew Polenzani (Nemorino), Mariusz Kwiecien (Belcore), Ambrogio Maestri (Dulcamara), NN (Giannetta); Bartlett Sher (Director), Chorus and Orchestra of the Metropolitan Opera, Mautizio Benini 

L’Elisir d’Amore, Met, New York City, 27. Sep 2012 – Anna Netrebko (Adina), Matthew Polenzani (Nemorino), Mariusz Kwiecien (Belcore), Ambrogio Maestri (Dulcamara), NN (Giannetta); Bartlett Sher (Director), Chorus and Orchestra of the Metropolitan Opera, Mautizio Benini 

L’Elisir d’Amore, Met, New York City, 1. Oct 2012 – Anna Netrebko (Adina), Matthew Polenzani (Nemorino), Mariusz Kwiecien (Belcore), Ambrogio Maestri (Dulcamara), NN (Giannetta); Bartlett Sher (Director), Chorus and Orchestra of the Metropolitan Opera, Mautizio Benini 

L’Elisir d’Amore, Met, New York City, 5. Oct 2012 – Anna Netrebko (Adina), Matthew Polenzani (Nemorino), Mariusz Kwiecien (Belcore), Ambrogio Maestri (Dulcamara), NN (Giannetta); Bartlett Sher (Director), Chorus and Orchestra of the Metropolitan Opera, Mautizio Benini  

L’Elisir d’Amore, Met, New York City, 10. Oct 2012 – Anna Netrebko (Adina), Matthew Polenzani (Nemorino), Mariusz Kwiecien (Belcore), Ambrogio Maestri (Dulcamara), NN (Giannetta); Bartlett Sher (Director), Chorus and Orchestra of the Metropolitan Opera, Mautizio Benini  

L’Elisir d’Amore, Met, New York City, 13. Oct 2012 – Anna Netrebko (Adina), Matthew Polenzani (Nemorino), Mariusz Kwiecien (Belcore), Ambrogio Maestri (Dulcamara), NN (Giannetta); Bartlett Sher (Director), Chorus and Orchestra of the Metropolitan Opera, Mautizio Benini [The Met: Live in HD]

L’Elisir d’Amore, Met, New York City, 30. Jan 2013 – Anna Netrebko (Adina), Matthew Polenzani (Nemorino), Mariusz Kwiecien (Belcore), NN (Dulcamara), NN (Giannetta); Bartlett Sher (Director), Chorus and Orchestra of the Metropolitan Opera, Mautizio Benini  

L’Elisir d’Amore, Met, New York City, 2. Feb 2013 – Anna Netrebko (Adina), Matthew Polenzani (Nemorino), Mariusz Kwiecien (Belcore), NN (Dulcamara), NN (Giannetta); Bartlett Sher (Director), Chorus and Orchestra of the Metropolitan Opera, Mautizio Benini  

L’Elisir d’Amore, Met, New York City, 6. Feb 2013 – Anna Netrebko (Adina), Matthew Polenzani (Nemorino), Mariusz Kwiecien (Belcore), NN (Dulcamara), NN (Giannetta); Bartlett Sher (Director), Chorus and Orchestra of the Metropolitan Opera, Mautizio Benini  

L’Elisir d’Amore, Met, New York City, 9. Feb 2013 – Anna Netrebko (Adina), Matthew Polenzani (Nemorino), Mariusz Kwiecien (Belcore), NN (Dulcamara), NN (Giannetta); Bartlett Sher (Director), Chorus and Orchestra of the Metropolitan Opera, Mautizio Benini 

Anna Netrebko at the Met's free Summer HD Festival

The Metropolitan Opera's free Summer HD Festival opens with a screening of Donizetti's "Don Pasquale" starring Anna Netrebko on Saturday, August 27 at Lincoln Center Plaza.

Anna Netrebko revives her sensational turn in this sophisticated bel canto comedy, opposite Matthew Polenzani, Mariusz Kwiecien, and John Del Carlo in the title role. Music Director James Levine conducts Otto Schenk’s production.

This performance was originally transmitted live on November 13, 2010.

UPDATE 26. Aug 2011
Due to the forecasted weather this weekend, the Live in HD Festival screenings for Saturday and Sunday are cancelled.

BREAKING NEWS - The Asian Tour of Netrebko and Schrott has been postponed

The Asian Tour of Anna Netrebko and Erwin Schrott, who was initially planned from 24. June to 9. July 2011, has been postponed due to organization reasons. New dates have yet to be announced.

Anna Netrebko still plans to go to Japan with the Met tour where she will sing the role of Mimi in Puccini's "La Bohème" in Nagoya and Tokyo and she will give a concert with Mariusz Kwiecien in Tokyo, everything conducted by James Levine.

Check out Anna Netrebko's 2010-2011 season for further details.

Deutsche Grammophon releases "Don Pasquale" DVD from the "Met: Live in HD" on 17. May 2011

Deutsche Grammophon releases Donizetti's "Don Pasquale" DVD from the "Met: Live in HD" series on 17. May 2011.

Composer: Gaetano Donizetti
Conductor: James Levine
Artists: Anna Netrebko, Matthew Polenzani, Mariusz Kwiecien, John Del Carlo
Orchestra: Metropolitan Opera Orchestra
Chorus: Metropolitan Opera Chorus
Production: Otto Schenk


Label: Deutsche Grammophon
Running Time: 2 hrs. 22 min.

Release Date: 5/17/11

Anna Netrebko will open Met's 2012-2013 season with Donizetti's "L'elisir d'amore"

La Cieca reports that the opening night of the Met’s 2012-2013 season has been settled. Starring in a new Bartlett Sher production of Donizetti's "L’elisir d’amore" will be Anna Netrebko, Matthew Polenzani and Mariusz Kwiecien, with Dulcamara and conductor TBA.

"Don Pasquale" Opens Season for Great Performances at the Met on PBS on 5. Jan 2011

The revival of Otto Schenk's production of Donizetti's "Don Pasquale", starring Anna Netrebko as Norina, Marius Kwiecien as Dr. Malatesta, Matthew Polenzani making his Met role debut as Ernesto and John Del Carlo in the title role, opens season for Great Performances at the Met broadcast series on Saturday 5. January 2011 at 9 PM (ET) on PBS. Maestro James Levine conducts for the first time ever this opera.

Great Performances at the Met: Don Pasquale is directed for television by Gary Halvorson and hosted by mezzo-soprano Susan Graham.

Don Pasquale, Met, New York 6. Nov 2010

Saturday, 6. November 2010. Third performance of the run of Otto Schenk's revival of Donizetti's "Don Pasquale" at the Metropolitan Opera House of New York, featuring John Del Carlo in the title role, Anna Netrebko as Norina, Matthew Polenzani as Ernesto and Mariusz Kwiecien as Dr. Malatesta. The conductor is James Levine.

Don Pasquale
Opera buffa in three acts
Music by Gaetano Donizetti
Text by Giovanni Ruffini

Metropolitan Opera House, New York 6. November 2010

John Del Carlo, Don Pasquale
Anna Netrebko, Norina
Matthew Polenzani, Enesto
Mariusz Kwiecien, Dr. Malatesta
Bernard Fitch, Notary

James Levine, Conductor
Chorus and Orchestra of the Metropolitan Opera House

Otto Schenk, Production
Rolf Langenfass, Set and Costume Designer
Duane Schuler, Lighting Designer

About the Opera
Opera Background
Cast and Characters
About the Composer
Story and Music
Synopsis

Reports
Howard and his wife Paula attended this performance of "Don Pasquale" at the Metropolitan Opera House. Howard kindly wrote the following review for the blog.

Don Pasquale, Met, New York 6. Nov 2010
By Howard 

The performance of Donizetti's Don Pasquale at the Metropolitan Opera was truly a tour de force and exceeded all of our expecations. The cast was marvelous and uniform throughout.

     John Del Carlo, Don Pasquale (has also played in the Barber of Seville)
     Anna Netrebko, Norina (a reprise performance for her at the Met)
     Matthew Polenzani, Ernesto (a beautiful lyric tenor)
     Mariusz Kwiecien, Dr. Malatesta (a handsome match for Norina)

The opera begins with Dr. Malatesta singing a beautiful lyric melody which sets the stage for a comical farce based on love and playing jokes on an old codger. Both Mariusz Kwiecien and Matthew Polenzani were elegant and supportive, but the afternoon was dominated by Norina's antics. Her second scene putting on a pair of stockings on a the edge of the bed is the highlight of the opera showcased in a clip from the dress rehearsal at the MET. Her impish charm and seductive nature is amply paired with a lustrous voice which fills the opera house which hold nearly 4000 patrons. This scene was well choreographed and was a sheer delight to behold. She literally stopped the show with applause. As the curtain closed on the second scene of the first act, Norina did a small tumble onto the divan. As I recall, the earlier production for her in this role, she scaled back this effort, but took the audience by surprise.

As the opera continues in the 2nd act, Norina is on a roll, kicking Don Pasquale in the rear and smashing vases on the floor, destroying Don Pasquale's bed and simply carrying on with much fun as an overblown practical joke, calling Don Pasquale an old codger. The audience broke out in laughter on more than one occasion as the merriment evolved. Unlike most productions at the MET, there were numerous well behaved young children at this performance.

The third act reveals the nature of the joke and Don Pasquale blesses the love between Ernesto, the nephew, and Norina. There is a touching duet between John Del Carlo, Don Pasquale, and Mariusz Kwiecien, Dr. Malatesta, that was repeated at the end of the third act in front of the curtain.

Anna's voice and stature have grown, but she truly ruled the stage with charm, a great sense of humor and uncanny ability to act as an impish young girl. The role of Norina was certainly well suited for her and I was overjoyed to hear improvements in some of her trills, coloratura embellishments and thrilling high notes exemplified at the end of the 3rd act. Anna was clearly enjoying herself immensely, and sang with much confidence and panache. At one point late in the opera she even walked over to the prompter's box and sang from there. The curtain closed to thunderous applause for Anna and her colleagues. It is clear that James Levine is truly a genius, but he is now quite lame and came to the stage using a cane and holding on to other people to steady his balance. He is truly loved by the New York Audience and one could see "Jimmy" throwing a kiss to Anna as the cast took a collective final bow.

Having seen the earlier performance of Don Pasquale at the MET also, I could easily say that this one was filled wiith more humor and antics. Anna hammed it up to rapturous applause, but her real talents lie in an amalgam of acting, sensational looks and a rapturous voice. We loved it so much even havinf traveled from Boston to see it, that we are attending an encore HD performance. All of the nearby theaters were already sold out for the "Live" HD transmission. We will see Anna again at the Richard Tucker Gala at Avery Fisher Hall at Lincoln Center on November 14th.

My only regret was having a dinner appointment in Manhattan with dear friends that precluded us from going to the stage door. I hope all of you will get to see this marvelous performance in the HD transmissions.

Photos

Don Pasquale poster at the Met. Photo: Howard

Anna Netrebko (Norina) at the final curtain calls. Don Pasquale, Metropolitan Opera House, New York 6. Nov 2010. Photo: Verónica

Anna Netrebko (Norina) at the final curtain calls. Don Pasquale, Metropolitan Opera House, New York 6. Nov 2010. Photo: Verónica

Mariusz Kwiecien (Dr. Malatesta), Matthew Polenzani (Ernesto), Anna Netrebko (Norina) and John Del Carlo (Don Pasquale) at the final curtain calls. Don Pasquale, Metropolitan Opera House, New York 6. Nov 2010. Photo: Verónica

Anna Netrebko signing autographs at the stage door. Don Pasquale, Metropolitan Opera House, New York 6. Nov 2010. Photo: Verónica

Anna Netrebko signing autographs at the stage door. Don Pasquale, Metropolitan Opera House, New York 6. Nov 2010. Photo: Verónica

Anna Netrebko signing autographs at the stage door. Don Pasquale, Metropolitan Opera House, New York 6. Nov 2010. Photo: Verónica

Anna Netrebko at the stage door. Don Pasquale, Metropolitan Opera House, New York 6. Nov 2010. Photo: Verónica

Anna Netrebko at the stage door. Don Pasquale, Metropolitan Opera House, New York 6. Nov 2010. Photo: Verónica

Anna Netrebko returns to the Met as Norina in Donizetti's "Don Pasquale"

Anna Netrebko retuns to the Met to sing the role of Norina in a revival of Otto Schenk's production of Donizetti's "Don Pasquale". The cast features Matthew Polenzani making his Met role debut as Ernesto, Mariusz Kwiecien as Dr. Malatesta and John del Carlo in the title role. Maestro James Levine conducts for first time ever this opera.

Anna Netrebko made her Met debut as Norina in Otto Schenk's production of Donizetti's "Don Pasquale" in 2006, opposite Juan Diego Flórez as Ernesto, Mariusz Kwiecien, who made his Met role debut, as Dr. Malatesta and Simone Alaimo in the title role. Maestro Maurizio Benini conducted the Chorus and Orchestra of the Metropolitan Opera House. Check out the Anna Netrebko Performances Database for further information about those performances.

Two sets of performances, six in October/November 2010 and five in February 2011, are scheduled. The premiere will take place on 29. October 2010.

A dress rehearsal and photo session was done on 21. October 2010. The final dress rehearsal was on 26. October 2010. This clip, courtesy of the Metropolitan Opera, shows Anna Netrebko as Norina in the final dress rehearsal.



The performance on 13. November 2010 will be transmitted to movie theaters worldwide as part of The Met: Live in HD program.



Sirius/XM will live broadcast the premiere and the performances on 2., 10., 18. November 2010 and 19. February 2011. The last performance on 19. February 2011 will be also live broadcast as part of the Saturday Matinees International Radio Brooadcast Network. The premiere on 29. October 2010 will be streamed live through the Met website.

Don Pasquale, Met, New York 29. Oct 2010 – Anna Netrebko (Norina), Matthew Polenzaniª (Ernesto), Mariusz Kwiecien (Dr. Malatesta), John Del Carlo (Don Pasquale), Bernard Fitch (Notary); Otto Schenk (Production), Chorus and Orchestra of the Metropolitan Opera House, James Levine* [Live Web Stream][Sirius/XM Live Broadcast]

Don Pasquale, Met, New York 2. Nov 2010 – Anna Netrebko (Norina), Matthew Polenzani (Ernesto), Mariusz Kwiecien (Dr. Malatesta), John Del Carlo (Don Pasquale), Bernard Fitch (Notary); Otto Schenk (Production), Chorus and Orchestra of the Metropolitan Opera House, James Levine [Sirius/XM Live Broadcast]

Don Pasquale, Met, New York 6. Nov 2010 – Anna Netrebko (Norina), Matthew Polenzani (Ernesto), Mariusz Kwiecien (Dr. Malatesta), John Del Carlo (Don Pasquale), Bernard Fitch (Notary); Otto Schenk (Production), Chorus and Orchestra of the Metropolitan Opera House, James Levine

Don Pasquale, Met, New York 10. Nov 2010 – Anna Netrebko (Norina), Matthew Polenzani (Ernesto), Mariusz Kwiecien (Dr. Malatesta), John Del Carlo (Don Pasquale), Bernard Fitch (Notary); Otto Schenk (Production), Chorus and Orchestra of the Metropolitan Opera House, James Levine [Sirius/XM Live Broadcast]

Don Pasquale, Met, New York 13. Nov 2010 – Anna Netrebko (Norina), Matthew Polenzani (Ernesto), Mariusz Kwiecien (Dr. Malatesta), John Del Carlo (Don Pasquale), Bernard Fitch (Notary); Otto Schenk (Production), Chorus and Orchestra of the Metropolitan Opera House, James Levine [Met Live in HD Broadcast]

Don Pasquale, Met, New York 18. Nov 2010 – Anna Netrebko (Norina), Barry Banks (Ernesto), Mariusz Kwiecien (Dr. Malatesta), John Del Carlo (Don Pasquale), Bernard Fitch (Notary); Otto Schenk (Production), Chorus and Orchestra of the Metropolitan Opera House, Joseph Colaneri [Sirius/XM Live Broadcast]

Don Pasquale, Met, New York 4. Feb 2011 – Anna Netrebko (Norina), Matthew Polenzani (Ernesto), Mariusz Kwiecien (Dr. Malatesta), John Del Carlo (Don Pasquale), Bernard Fitch (Notary); Otto Schenk (Production), Chorus and Orchestra of the Metropolitan Opera House, James Levine

Don Pasquale, Met, New York 8. Feb 2011 – Anna Netrebko (Norina), Matthew Polenzani (Ernesto), Mariusz Kwiecien (Dr. Malatesta), John Del Carlo (Don Pasquale), Bernard Fitch (Notary); Otto Schenk (Production), Chorus and Orchestra of the Metropolitan Opera House, James Levine

Don Pasquale, Met, New York 11. Feb 2011 – Anna Netrebko (Norina), Matthew Polenzani (Ernesto), Mariusz Kwiecien (Dr. Malatesta), John Del Carlo (Don Pasquale), Bernard Fitch (Notary); Otto Schenk (Production), Chorus and Orchestra of the Metropolitan Opera House, James Levine

Don Pasquale, Met, New York 14. Feb 2011 – Anna Netrebko (Norina), Matthew Polenzani (Ernesto), Mariusz Kwiecien (Dr. Malatesta), John Del Carlo (Don Pasquale), Bernard Fitch (Notary); Otto Schenk (Production), Chorus and Orchestra of the Metropolitan Opera House, James Levine

Don Pasquale, Met, New York 19. Feb 2011 – Anna Netrebko (Norina), Matthew Polenzani (Ernesto), Mariusz Kwiecien (Dr. Malatesta), John Del Carlo (Don Pasquale), Bernard Fitch (Notary); Otto Schenk (Production), Chorus and Orchestra of the Metropolitan Opera House, James Levine [Saturday Matinee Live Broadcast] [Sirius/XM Live Broadcast]

Anna Netrebko and Mariusz Kwiecien will perform in a Met Orchestra Special Concert at the Suntory Hall, Tokyo on 14. Jun 2011

Breaking News! Anna Netrebko and Mariusz Kwiecien will perform in a Met Orchestra Special Concert at the Suntoy Hall, Tokyo on Tuesday 14. June 2011 at 19:00. Maestro James Levine will conduct the Chorus and Orchestra of the Metropolitan Opera House.

PROGRAMME
Debussy | Images pour Orchestre
Verdi | La Traviata, Prelude to Act III
Verdi | La Traviata, "Ah, fors'e lui... Sempre Libera"
Debussy | Prelude a l'apres-midi d'un faune
Tchaikovsky | Eugene Onegin, Polonaise from Act III
Tchaikovsky | Eugene Onegin, Act III, Scene 2

Tickets price for the Special Concert are from 10,000 to 30,000 Yens. Information in english is also provided on the site.

This concert takes place as part of the three week Met Tour to Japan running from 30. May 2011 to 20. June 2011, where three full staged operas, Puccini's "La Boheme", Verdi's "Don Carlo" and Donizetti's "Lucia di Lammermoor", will be performed.

The cast for this Japan Tour is a truly stellar one including Ildar Abdrazakov, Piotr Beczala, Olga Borodina, Joseph Calleja, Diana Damrau, Barbara Frittoli, Dmitri Hvorostovky, Jonas Kaufmann, Stefan Kocan, Mariusz Kwiecien, Željko Lučić, Anna Netrebko, René Pape, Edward Parks, Susanna Phillips, Paul Plishka and John Relyea. James Levine and Gianandrea Noseda will conduct the Chorus and Orchestra of the Metropolitan Opera House.

Metropolitan Opera Tour to Japan 2011

SATURDAY, June 4— La Bohème, Aichi Prefectural Arts Center, Nagoya, Puccini's "La Bohème" with James Levine conducting; Anna Netrebko (Mimì), Susanna Phillips (Musetta), Piotr Beczala (Rodolfo), Mariusz Kwiecien (Marcello), Edward Parks (Schaunard), John Relyea (Colline), Paul Plishka (Benoit/Alcindoro)

SUNDAY, June 5— Aichi Prefectural Arts Center, Nagoya, Verdi’s “Don Carlo” with James Levine conducting; Barbara Frittoli (Elisabeth de Valois), Olga Borodina (Princess Eboli), Jonas Kaufmann (Don Carlo), Dmitri Hvorostovsky (Rodrigo), René Pape (Phillip II), Stefan Kocan (Grand Inquisitor).

WEDNESDAY, June 8— NHK Hall, Tokyo, Puccini’s “La Bohème” with James Levine conducting; Anna Netrebko (Mimì), Susanna Phillips (Musetta), Piotr Beczala (Rodolfo), Mariusz Kwiecien (Marcello), Edward Parks (Schaunard), John Relyea (Colline), Paul Plishka (Benoit/Alcindoro).

THURSDAY, June 9—Bunka Kaikan, Tokyo, Donizetti’s “Lucia di Lammermoor” with Gianandrea Noseda conducting; Diana Damrau (Lucia), Joseph Calleja (Edgardo), Željko Lučić (Enrico), Ildar Abdrazakov (Raimondo).

FRIDAY, June 10— NHK Hall, Tokyo, Verdi’s “Don Carlo” with James Levine conducting; Barbara Frittoli (Elisabeth de Valois), Olga Borodina (Princess Eboli), Jonas Kaufmann (Don Carlo), Dmitri Hvorostovsky (Rodrigo), René Pape (Phillip II), Stefan Kocan (Grand Inquisitor).

SATURDAY, June 11— NHK Hall, Tokyo, Puccini’s “La Bohème” with James Levine conducting; Anna Netrebko (Mimì), Susanna Phillips (Musetta), Piotr Beczala (Rodolfo), Mariusz Kwiecien (Marcello), Edward Parks (Schaunard), John Relyea (Colline), Paul Plishka (Benoit/Alcindoro).

SUNDAY, June 12—Bunka Kaikan, Tokyo, Donizetti’s “Lucia di Lammermoor” with Gianandrea Noseda conducting; Diana Damrau (Lucia), Joseph Calleja (Edgardo), Željko Lučić (Enrico), Ildar Abdrazakov (Raimondo).

TUESDAY, June 14—Suntory Hall, Tokyo, Met Orchestra Special Concert with James Levine conducting; Anna Netrebko (Soprano) and Mariusz Kwiecien (Baritone)

WEDNESDAY, June 15—NHK Hall, Tokyo, Verdi’s “Don Carlo” with James Levine conducting; Barbara Frittoli (Elisabeth de Valois), Olga Borodina (Princess Eboli), Jonas Kaufmann (Don Carlo), Dmitri Hvorostovsky (Rodrigo), René Pape (Phillip II), Stefan Kocan (Grand Inquisitor).

THURSDAY, June 16—Bunka Kaikan, Tokyo, Donizetti’s “Lucia di Lammermoor” with Gianandrea Noseda conducting; Diana Damrau (Lucia), Piotr Beczala (Edgardo), Željko Lučić (Enrico), Ildar Abdrazakov (Raimondo).

FRIDAY, June 17—NHK Hall, Tokyo, Puccini’s “La Bohème” with James Levine conducting; Anna Netrebko (Mimì), Susanna Phillips (Musetta), Joseph Calleja (Rodolfo), Mariusz Kwiecien (Marcello), Edward Parks (Schaunard), John Relyea (Colline), Paul Plishka (Benoit/Alcindoro).

SATURDAY, June 18— NHK Hall, Tokyo, Verdi’s “Don Carlo” with James Levine conducting; Barbara Frittoli (Elisabeth de Valois), Olga Borodina (Princess Eboli), Jonas Kaufmann (Don Carlo), Dmitri Hvorostovsky (Rodrigo), René Pape (Phillip II), Stefan Kocan (Grand Inquisitor).

SUNDAY, June 19— Bunka Kaikan, Tokyo, Donizetti’s “Lucia di Lammermoor” with Gianandrea Noseda conducting; Diana Damrau (Lucia), Piotr Beczala (Edgardo), Željko Lučić (Enrico), Ildar Abdrazakov (Raimondo).

SUNDAY, June 19—NHK Hall, Tokyo, Puccini’s “La Bohème” with James Levine conducting; Anna Netrebko (Mimì), Susanna Phillips (Musetta), Joseph Calleja (Rodolfo), Mariusz Kwiecien (Marcello), Edward Parks (Schaunard), John Relyea (Colline), Paul Plishka (Benoit/Alcindoro) 

Anna Netrebko will sing at the 2010 Richard Tucker Gala

The 2010 Richard Tucker Music Foundation Gala will be held at the Avery Fisher Hall, New York on Sunday, 14. November 2010 at  6:30 PM starring Ferruccio Furlanetto, Elina Garanca, Marcelo Giordani, Brandon Jovanovich, Simon Keenlyside, Mariusz Kwiecien, Zeljko Lucic, Angela Meade, Anna Netrebko, Deborah Voigt and James Valenti, winner of the 2010 Richard Tucker Award. Maestro Marco Armiliato will conduct the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and New York Choral Society.

Anna Netrebko will perform in Don Pasquale at the Met 2010-2011 Season

Today the Metropolitan Opera has announced the new 2010-2011 Season. Anna Netrrebko sings Norina in a revival of Otto Schenk's production of Donizetti's Don Pasquale. Matthew Polenzani and Barry Banks (18. Nov 2010) are Ernesto, Mariusz Kwiecien is Dr. Malatesta and John del Carlo is Don Pasquale. James Levine conducts all performances, except the one on 18. Nov 2010, for which the conductor has to be announced.

Two runs have been scheduled. The first one, with 6 performances (29. Oct, 2., 6., 10., 13., 18. Nov 2010), runs from 29. Oct to 18. Nov 2010 and the second one, with 5 performances (4., 8., 11., 14., 19. Feb 2011), runs from 4. Feb to 19. Feb 2011.

The performance on 13. Nov 2010 will be live broadcast within the Met Live in HD Series.

Anna Netrebko made her debut as Norina at the Met on 31. Mar 2006, opposite Juan Diego Florez as Ernesto, Mariusz Kwiecien as Dr Malatesta and Simone Alaimo as Don Pasquale. Before the 3rd Act Joseph Volpe, general manager of the Met at that time, came on stage to announce that Juan Diego Florez had suffered an "allergic attack" and would be replaced by Barry Banks for the final act. The conductor was Maurizio Benini. Check out the Don Pasquale page at the Met Archives for a collection of photos of the production.

Related Posts
Anna Netrebko | 2010-2011 Season

New CD and DVD releases of Anna Netrebko

Deutsche Grammophon announces the following two international releases of Anna Netrebko:

Int. Release 02 Nov. 2009
DONIZETTI Lucia di Lammermoor DVD-VIDEO
2 DVD-Videos 073 4526
Lucia di Lammermoor (Gesamtaufnahme · Complete)
Anna Netrebko · Piotr Beczala
Mariusz Kwiecien · Ildar Abdrazakov
The Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and Chorus

Int. Release 16 Oct. 2009
RIMSKY-KORSAKOV Songs Netrebko
1 CD 477 8589
Summer's Night Lieder · Songs
Anna Netrebko

The DVD of Lucia di Lammermoor can be ordered at KlassikAkzente starting 9. Oct 2009 and it will be available on 30. Oct 2009.

Update 6. Oct 2009

The initially announced CD with the Rimsky-Korsakov and sone Tchaikovsky songs recorded last summer in Salzburg has been removed from the DG website. Therefore we do not expect that it will be available on the date announced.

Great Performances at the Met, Lucia di Lammermoor, 15. Apr 2009

On 7. February 2009, Donizetti's Lucia di Lammermoor, starring Anna Netrebko in the title role, Piotr Beczala as Edgardo, Mariusz Kwiecien as Enrico, Ildar Abdrazakov as Raimondo and Marco Armiliato conducting, was transmitted live by The Met: Live in HD to movie theaters worldwide.

Now PBS has announced the telecast in HD of this performance, within the program GREAT PERFORMANCES AT THE MET, on Wednesday, April 15, 2009, 9:00 pm - 11:30 pm ET

Related posts
Lucia di Lammermoor, Met, New York 7. Feb 2009

Lucia di Lammermoor, Met, New York 26. Jan 2009

Gaetano Donizetti
LUCIA DI LAMMERMOOR
Metropolitan Opera House, 26. January 2009

Cast
Conductor: Marco Armiliato

Lucia: Anna Netrebko
Edgardo: Rolando Villazón
Enrico: Mariusz Kwiecien
Raimondo: Ildar Abdrazakov
Normanno: Michael Myers
Alisa: Michaela Martens
Arturo: Colin Lee*

Flute Solo: Stefán Ragnar Höskuldsson
Harp Solo: Mariko Anraku
Armonica Solo: Cecilia Brauer

The Production Team
Production: Mary Zimmerman
Set Designer: Daniel Ostling
Costume Designer: Mara Blumenfeld
Lighting Designer: T. J. Gerckens
Choreographer: Daniel Pelzig

The Characters
Lucia: Lucia of Lammermoor is the sister of Enrico. She is in love with her brother's rival, Edgardo, but is forced to marry Arturo against her will.
Enrico: Enrico of Lammermoor is Lucia's brother. He has defeated Edgardo, winning control over the Ravenswood estates. To restore his waning power, he forces Lucia to marry against her will.
Edgardo: Edgardo of Ravenswood has recently lost control of his family's estates to the Lammermoors. He is in love with Lucia and will do anything to marry her.
Arturo: Arturo is a member of the Bucklaw family, and has agreed to marry Lucia in order to unite with the Lammermoor family.
Raimondo: Lucia's tutor.
Normanno: Follower of Enrico.

TV News videoclips


Audio clips with images
Anna Netrebko and Rolando Villazón in the wedding scene.

Anna Netrebko singing the mad scene

Reviews
Anthony Tommasini wrote for The New York Times:

"The impressive qualities of her singing were amply on display as the fragile Lucia, who has fallen in love with the enemy of her clannish family in Scotland, Edgardo, but is forced to marry a wealthy nobleman to rescue the family from financial ruin. Ms. Netrebko remains a glamorous and charismatic singer with an opulent and poignantly lovely voice."

"During her first scene, in the haunting aria “Regnava nel silenzio,” she shaped the arching phrases with rich sound and lyrical suppleness. She has always valued expressive nuances and impetuosity over rhythmic precision and flawless execution."

"Yet during the first part of the mad scene, after Lucia stabs her husband to death on their wedding night, Ms. Netrebko was spellbinding. In the hushed pianissimo passage when the delusional young woman believes she and her beloved Edgardo are at last united, she created vocal magic, imbuing lines with spectral colorings that matched the eerie sounds of the glass harmonica, played by Cecilia Brauer. Her earthy, subdued expressivity had me thinking of Callas."

"Bel Canto Magic in a Scottish Castle Haunted by Pesky High Notes" by Anthony Tommasini - The New York Times, 27. Jan 2009

"Star Tenor Villazon Conks Out, Rallies, Triumphs in Met Show" by Zinta Lundborg - Bloomberg 27. Jan 2009

Richard on rec.music.opera

Related posts
Anna Netrebko makes her Lucia debut at the Met on 26. Jan 2009
21C Media Group press release

Acknowledgements
Elisa, Rhodri, ZvezdanewsTV for uploading the TV news videoclip to Youtube, Hotazzoperastud for uploading the audioclips to Youtube

Anna Netrebko makes her Lucia debut at the Met on 26. Jan 2009

Anna Netrebko makes her highly-anticipated return to the Metropolitan Opera stage in New York to sing the title role of Donizetti's Lucia di Lammermoor.

The Metropolitan Opera production opens on 26. January 2009 and will mark the first time Netrebko has performed the role in New York. She will be partnered on stage with tenor Rolando Villazón as Edgardo, in their first joint appearances at the Met since April 2007, when the Met celebrated its 40th anniversary at Lincoln Center with a gala featuring the star singers, baritone Mariusz Kwiecien as Enrico and bass Ildar Abdrazakov as Raimondo. The director of the production is Mary Zimmerman and the conductor is Marco Armiliato. The same cast is scheduled for all four performances on 26. and 29. January and 3. and 7. February 2009.

Live Broadcasts and HD Transmissions
On 29. January 8:00 pm ET, Lucia di Lammermoor will be live broadcast by Metropolitan Opera Radio on Sirius XM.
On 7. February 01:00 pm ET, Lucia di Lammermoor will be live broadcast by Metropolitan Opera Radio on Sirius XM and Metropolitan Opera Radio Network Saturday Matinee Broadcasts and transmitted by The Met: Live in HD to movie theaters worldwide – Netrebko’s third consecutive Live in HD transmission from the Met.

Schedule change on Metropolitan Opera Radio on Sirius XM
The broadcast of Lucia di Lammermoor, originally planned for Thursday, January 29, has been postponed to Tuesday, February 3.

No more kisses on the stage
21C Media Group press release
Anna's Back!
Season 2008-2009

Anna is Back!

After taking a 6-month break from opera to give birth to Tiago Aruä, her first son with bass-baritone Erwin Schrott, Anna Netrebko returns for her Met debut in the title role of Donizetti's Lucia di Lammermoor on 26. January 2009.

The Met site has just published a recent interview with Anna, in which she talks about her return to the stage and her thoughts about Lucia.

"I didn't open my mouth at all. I just started practicing in November. I thought my voice would be wobbling. But no, no–it was there. I immediately sang the whole role of Lucia! I was curious how my voice would be, because I know of sopranos who have lost their voices after giving birth. But it seems like it was exactly the same as it was before. I started to sing like I had never stopped. The only thing that was different was that I got tired quickly. But that's normal. Like a sportsman, you need to train the muscles"

"The first time I heard Lucia I thought, Oh, my God, how can anybody sing that? No way. But later I tried it, and immediately, from the first phrase, it felt so good"

"You have to be able to act, you have to be able to move... That said, I was once at a performance of Lucia at the Vienna Staatsoper, with a wonderful soprano, Edita Gruberova. She doesn't really act–she's a singer. And I have to tell you, that was one of the most amazing Lucias I ever saw. She was just standing and singing, and it was incredible. She blew me away with her singing"

Read the Met Interview to Anna Netrebko

The Metropolitan Opera HD Live: Lucia di Lammermoor with Anna Netrebko and Rolando Villazón

Anna Netrebko 2008-2009 Season Schedule