The Met: Live in HD, Anna Bolena, Met, NYC 15. Oct 2011

Anna Netrebko, Diva Assoluta del Mondo, has opened today the sixth season of The Met: Live in HD, the Metropolitan Opera’s Peabody and Emmy Award-winning series of live transmissions to movie theaters around the world, starring in the title role of Donizetti's masterpiece Anna Bolena. The opera, based on the final tragic days of the ill-fated Queen Anne Boleyn, makes its Met premiere in a new production by David McVicar conducted by Marco Armiliato.

Opposite Anna Netrebko as Anna Bolena were Ekaterina Gubanova as Giovanna Seymour, lady-in-waiting to the Queen who will become her rival to end up being the third King's wife, Ildar Abdrazakov as the King Enrico VIII and Stephen Costello as Lord Riccardo Percy, former lover and husband of Anna Bolena who is still in love with her.

Ms Netrebko's performance as Anna Bolena has been outstanding, absolutely fantastic vocally and with an impressive stage presence. She was thrilling at the final mad scene, moving at the final scene of the first act, touching at the duet with Stephen Costello at the second scene of the second act and amazing at her duet with a fantastic Ekaterina Gubanova at the first scene of the second act.

Ekaterina Gubanova, who had been suffering from a cold during the last days, was impressive vocally and on stage, giving a magnificent portrayal of Giovanna Seymour.

Stephen Costello was a passionated Lord Riccardo Percy and his duet with Anna Netrebko in the second scene of the second act was moving. Ildar Abdrazakov gave also a good portrayal of King Enrico VIII.

The rest of the cast was given by Tamara Mumford as a superb Smeton, Anna Bolena's page and musician who is in love with the Queen, Keith Miller as Lord Rochefort, Anna Bolena's brother, and Eduardo Valdes as Sir Hervey, a court official.

The production by David McVicar was a magnificent one, displaying a superb collection of great costumes. The stage presence of the two irish wolfhound at the second scene of the first act was amazing.

The audience gave a well deserved huge standing ovation at the final curtain calls.

The Met: Live in HD has expanded its worldwide distribution this year, reaching now 1,600 theaters in 54 countries. For first time ever, The Met: Live in HD  was available in Russia, Ms Netrebko's native country.

Today's transmission of Anna Bolena has been hosted by Renée Fleming. Met General Manager Peter Gelb made the introduction and interviewed Anna Netrebko before the performance, as she had required. Ms Netrebko addressed some words in russian to her audience in the movie theaters of Moscow and St. Petersburg. Marco Armiliato was also interviewed before the performance, near the entrance to the orchestra pit, by Mary Jo Heath, a member of the Met staff. Renée Fleming was back at the intermission to interview Ekaterina Gubanova and Ildar Abdrazakov, followed by Stephen Costello and Tamara Mumford.



Anna Netrebko made her outstanding worlwide debut as Anna Bolena on 2. April 2011 at the Wiener Staatsoper. A 2 DVD video recording of those performances has been internationally released by Deutsche Grammophon on 14. October 2011 and the Blu-Ray disc version will be released on 4. November 2011.

Donizetti's Anna Bolena, starring Anna Netrebko in the title role, runs at the Met through 18. October 2011, with two additional performances on 1. February and 4. February 2012.

PROGRAMME

ANNA BOLENA
Music by Gaetano Donizetti
Text by Felici Romani

The Met: Live in HD, Met, NYC 15. Oct 2011

CAST
Anna Bolena: Anna Netrebko
Giovanna Seymour: Ekaterina Gubanova
Smeton: Tamara Mumford
Lord Riccardo Percy: Stephen Costello
Enrico VIII: Ildar Abdrazakov
Lord Rochefort: Keith Miller
Sir Hervey: Eduardo Valdes

THE PRODUCTION TEAM
Production: David McVicar
Set Designer: Robert Jones
Costume Designer: Jenny Tiramani
Lighting Designer: Paule Constable
Choreographer: Andrew George

Conductor: Marco Armiliato

LIBRETTO
Anna Bolena | Italian / Spanish Libretto | Atto 1 | Atto 2

PHOTOS
Check out the pictures of the Anna Bolena Met's official photo album

WEBSITE / BLOG REVIEWS
Mark Ronan's Theatre Reviews: Anna Bolena, Metropolitan Opera live cinema relay, October 2011
Medicine & Opera: Anna Bolena in HD
Theater Jones: Head and Shoulders Above
In Fernem Land: El Met al Cinema: Anna Bolena
Seen and Heard International: Anna (Netrebko) Triumphs As Anna (Bolena) At The Met
El Blog de Atticus: "Anna Bolena" (Gaetano Donizetti), Metropolitan Opera 15/10/11
Ópera Perú: Una Anna Bolena que nos deja sin aliento
Playbill Arts: All Hail the Queen: Anna Netrebko stars in the Met's Anna Bolena
Operanut: Anna Bolena - Anna: Netrebko IS Bolena
CNY Café Momus: Anna Netrebko packs house - and costumes - in Met's new production of Anna Bolena

METROPOLITAN OPERA VIDEO EXCERPTS
Anna Netrebko sings the title role in this Act I excerpt from Donizetti's "Anna Bolena" at the Opening Night of the Met's 2011-12 Season. Video courtesy of The Metropolitan Opera.

VIDEO EXCERPTS
The Met: Live in HD, Anna Bolena, Met, NYC 15. Oct 2011
Introduction by Renée Fleming and interview to Anna Netrebko by Met General Manager Peter Gelb

Come, innocente giovane · Anna Netrebko, Ekaterina Gubanova

Da quel dì che, lei perduta · Stephen Costello, Keith Miller

Desta sì tosto · Ildar Abdrazakov, Anna Netrebko, Stehen Costello, Keith Miller, Eduardo Valdes

Duet Anna Bolena and Lord Riccardo Percy · Anna Netrebko, Stephen Costello

Giudici! ad Anna · Anna Netrebko, Stephen Costello, Ildar Abdrazakov, Tamara Mumford

Dio, che mi vedi in core · Anna Netrebko, Ekaterina Gubanova

Scostatevi ... il Re giunge · Eduardo Valdes, Ildar Abdrazakov, Anna Netrebko, Stephen Costello

Vivi tu · Stephen Costello, Keith Miller

Piangete voi · Anna Netrebko

Coppia iniqua, l'estrema vendetta · Anna Netrebko, Tamara Mumford, Stephen Costello, Keith Miller

The Met: Live in HD, for first time ever in Russia

The Met: Live in HD, the Metropolitan Opera’s award-winning series of live transmissions to movie theaters around the world, has expanded its worldwide distribution to different countries including, for first time ever, Russia.

In Russia The Met: Live in HD will be available in 4 cinemas in Moscow (35 mm cinema,.Formula Kino Horizon, Formula Kino Arrow and Formula Kino City) and 1 cinema in St. Petersburg (Formula Kino Gallery).

КИНОТЕАТРЫ
Кинотеатр 35mm Москва,
ул. Покровка, 47/24 (м. Курская / Красные ворота)

Формула Кино Горизонт Москва,
Комсомольский просп., 21/10 (м. Фрунзенская)

Формула Кино Стрела Москва,
Смоленская-Сенная пл., 23/25 (м. Смоленская)

Формула Кино Сити Москва,
Пресненская набережная, д. 2 (м. Выставочная)

Формула Кино Галерея Санкт-Петербург,
Лиговский просп. 30а, ТРЦ «Галерея» (м. Лиговский проспект)

Tickets are not on sale yet and most likely the sale will start this Saturday 8. Oct. Further information on the cinemas can be found on the CoolConnections.ru website.

The 2011-2012 series of live transmissions begins on 15. October with the Met premiere production of Donizetti’s Anna Bolena, featuring Anna Netrebko in the title role, Ekaterina Gubanova as Giovanna Seymour, Ildar Abdrazakov as Enrico VIII, Stephen Costello as Lord Riccardo Percy and Tamara Mumford as Smeton. The opera is directed by David McVicar and conducted by Marco Armiliato.

Check out also the Met press release for further details about the current season of The Met: Live in HD.

Anna Bolena, Opening Night Premiere, Met, NYC 26. Sep 2011

Anna Netrebko, the world's most charismatic soprano, brought down the house yesterday night at the Opening Gala Premiere of the Met's 2011-2012 Season as Anna Bolena, being this the first time ever Donizetti's masterpiece was perfomed at the Metropolitan Opera.

The production was by David McVicar and the performance was conducted by Marco Armilato. The cast featured Ekaterina Gubanova as Jane Seymour, Ildar Abdrazakov as Henry VIII and Stephen Costello as Lord Percy in the main roles.

For the sixth straight year, the Opening Night was transmitted live to multiple giant screens in Times Square. Approximately 2,000 seats were available on a first come, first served basis, with additional standing room provided. The performance was also shown on a screen on the Met façade, with approximately 3,000 seats available on Lincoln Center’s Josie Robertson Plaza. Free tickets, with a limit of two per person, were distributed at the Met box office. Pre-show coverage, including red-carpet interviews, hosted by Deborah Voigt, started at 6:00 PM EST.

The Opening Night Gala was broadcast live on Metropolitan Opera Radio on SiriusXM and streamed live on the Met’s website. Both transmissions also featured pre-show coverage, starting at 6:00 PM EST.

Anna Netrebko made her outstanding worlwide debut as Anna Bolena on 2. April 2011 at the Wiener Staatsoper. Deutsche Grammophon will release a live video recording of those performances. A 2 DVD video will be internationally released on 14. October 2011 and the Blu-Ray disc version will be released on 4. November 2011.

PROGRAMME

ANNA BOLENA
Music by Gaetano Donizetti
Text by Felici Romani

Met's 2011-2012 Season Opening Night, Met, NYC 26. Sep 2011

CAST
Anna Bolena: Anna Netrebko
Giovanna Seymour: Ekaterina Gubanova
Smeton: Tamara Mumford
Lord Riccardo Percy: Stephen Costello
Enrico VIII: Ildar Abdrazakov
Lord Rochefort: Keith Miller
Sir Hervey: Eduardo Valdes

THE PRODUCTION TEAM
Production: David McVicar
Set Designer: Robert Jones
Costume Designer: Jenny Tiramani
Lighting Designer: Paule Constable
Choreographer: Andrew George

Conductor: Marco Armiliato

LIBRETTO
Anna Bolena | Italian / Spanish Libretto | Atto 1 | Atto 2

PRESS REVIEWS
Mike Silverman (AP), in an outstanding, in-deep and detailed review of Anna Bolena's Opening Night Premiere at the Met, writes "Netrebko, always a naturally charismatic presence on stage, has now at age 40 grown into the vocal demands of the role. Her dark, syrupy, slightly melancholy tone has deepened and taken on more power, without any noticeable loss of lyric freedom at the top of her range. In fact, she has worked hard to cultivate a respectable trill — something she was criticized for lacking in earlier forays into the bel canto repertory". Mr Silverman adds "So she can melt our hearts one moment with a soft high C of great delicacy, then pin us to backs of our seats the next with a ferocious outburst of notes cascading over more than an octave."
2 Annas: Netrebko as 'Bolena' conquers Met | By Mike Silverman (AP) | Washington Examiner | 27. Sep 2011.

Anthony Tommasini writes in the New York Times: "‎Then at the end of this “Mad Scene,” when Anna, restored to horrific reality, curses the king and his new queen, Giovanna (Jane Seymour), and stalks off to her execution, Ms. Netrebko dispatched Donizetti’s cabaletta, all brilliant coloratura runs and vehement phrases, with a defiance that brought down the house."  
A Queen’s Delusion and Defiance Opens the Met Season | By Anthony Tommasini | The New York Times | 27. Sep 2011.

James Jorden, in his article for the New York Post, states that "The new monarch — ruling not over England but the Met — is Anna Netrebko, whose radiant performance at the company’s opening night Monday catapulted her to “prima donna assoluta”: undisputed superstar". In his review of the premiere, Mr. Jorden writes "It’s music that demands everything in a diva’s arsenal, and Netrebko delivered, her ravishing soft high C’s and delicate trills contrasting with slashing coloratura plummeting through the full soprano register".
Netrebko makes 'Anna'-xtroardinary queen | By James Jorden | The New York Post | 27. Sep 2011

Olivia Giovetti writes in WQXR "Her effortless stage persona and technique (showing signs of refinement in recent months) is what seemed to inspire her colleagues to rise to the occasion, and a luscious tone made her a natural in the role of Henry VIII’s star-crossed second wife. Though Netrebko has had many star turns in her decade of performing with the Met, this surely ranks as her most assertive as she fearlessly careened from desperate embraces and stares to delirious “Ah mio signors!” in the Act I finale to a rage-and-guilt-laden confrontation with her romantic rival and a spitfire reckoning scene with her husband and former lover."
Anna Netrebko Sets a Royal Standard as 'Anna Bolena' | By Olivia Giovetti | WQXR | 27. Sep 2011

Zachary Woolfe, in his review for the New York Observer, states "Ms. Netrebko’s voice, at 40, is warm and full, without edge. Her appeal is deceptively simple: when she sings, you don’t want her to stop. Her performance is both daring and assured. At the end of Act I, she almost chokes out “Guidici? Ad Anna?” (“Judges? For Anne?”) when she realizes her fate has been sealed, then telescopes the following note outward, pivoting from shock to rage. She faces upstage at key moments, trusting that she can convey emotion through posture alone."
Bravo Bolena! Soprano Anna Netrebko Dazzles in Met Production | By Zachary Woolfe | The New York Observer | 28. Sep 2011

Anne Midgette writes for The Washington Post "In the aria in the final scene, when the character is lapsing in and out of madness, she sat back and let her signature limpid, round, melting tone pour out. The audience rewarded her with a deserved ovation, and the singer acknowledged their applause with a smile."
Opera review: ‘Anna Bolena’ at Metropolitan Opera | By Anne Midgette | The Washinton Post | 28. Sep 2011

Howard Kissel writes for the Huffington Post "There is only one reason even to consider mounting it -- a spectacular dramatic soprano. And the Met has one in Anna Netrebko. It is a score with a huge range and many treacheries, but at no point did the fearless Netrebko give any indication that there were difficulties. Her voice was sure and luminous throughout and at its most radiant in the dramatic outbursts. In a break with tradition Netrebko gets a solo call when the final curtain falls. The house went wild. There was an impression of almost girlish joyousness on her face as she realized what she had achieved." 
Anna Bolena | By Howard Kissel | Huffington Post | 28. Sep 2011

Joe Dziemianowicz writes for the NY Daily News "Netrebko's voice was ripe, graceful and full-bodied. She was at her strongest when Anna's grip on reality was at its weakest. An 11th-hour aria in which a delirious Anna recalls happier times brought such thunderous applause that Netrebko seemed to break character and flashed a smile. No matter. This diva had earned it."
Metropolitan Oprera 'Anna Bolena' star Anna Netrebko has a voice to die for | By Joe Dziemianowicz | NY Daily News | 29. Sep 2011

As it can be seen in the selected reviews shown above, most of the critics pointed out and several ones were not amused with the fact that Anna Netrebko slightly wroke the character flashing a smile at the end of her famous, difficult and wonderfully sung aria Al dolce guidami in the final scene of the opera. This issue has been masterfully addressed by Zachary Woolfe in his article Grin and Bear It: Why Anna Netrebko's Smile Got the Critics Riled published on the New York Observer on 5. October 2011. Mr Woolfe collects some of the comments made by reviewers and gives a short history of breaking character on stage.
Grin and Bear It: Why Anna Netrebko's Smile Got the Critics Riled | By Zachary Woolfe | The New York Observer | 5. Oct 2011

Jill Krementz covers the Opening Night Gala Premiere for the New York Social Diary. Check out also the magnificent blog JS Julie Skarratt Photograpy.

A short TV coverage of the Openeing Night can be seen at the NY1 channel.

A video excerpt of the 1. Act's finale can be seen at the Anna Bolena Videos of the Met website.

A video excerpt with Anna Netrebko singing "coppia iniqua", the last scene of Anna Bolena, filmed during a rehearsal at the Met, can be seen at the Video Library of the New York Times.

Donizetti's Anna Bolena, starring Anna Netrebko in the title role, runs at the Met through 18. October 2011, with two additional performances on 1. February and 4. February 2012. The performance on 15. October 2011 will be transmitted live to movie theaters around the world, including Russia, Israel and China for first time ever, within the Met: Live in HD program.

PHOTOS
Check out the pictures of the Anna Bolena Met's official photo album

METROPOLITAN OPERA VIDEO EXCERPTS
Anna Netrebko sings the title role in this Act I excerpt from Donizetti's "Anna Bolena" at Opening Night of the Met's 2011-12 Season. Video courtesy of The Metropolitan Opera.

TV NEWS
Anna Netrebko as Anna Bolena at the NTV news


AUDIO EXCERPTS
"Come innocente giovane" [5:67] - Anna Bolena, Met, NYC 26. Sep 2011


"Giudici! ad Anna" [03:27] - Anna Bolena, Met, NYC 26. Sep 2011

"Piangete Voi?...Al dolce guidami...Coppia Iniqua" [22:36] - Anna Bolena, Met, NYC 26. Sep 2011

Anna Netrebko opens tonight the Met's 2011-2012 season making her Met role debut as Anna Bolena

Anna Netrebko opens tonight the Met's 2011-2012 season making her Met role debut in the title role of Donizetti's "Anna Bolena" in a production by David McVicar, conducted by Marco Armilato. The cast features Ekaterina Gubanova as Jane Seymour, Ildar Abdrazakov as Henry VIII and Stephen Costello as Lord Percy.


ANNA BOLENA
Music by Gaetano Donizetti
Text by Felici Romani

Met's 2011-2012 Season Opening Night, Met, NYC 26. Sep 2011

CAST
Conductor: Marco Armiliato
Anna Bolena: Anna Netrebko
Giovanna Seymour: Ekaterina Gubanova
Smeton: Tamara Mumford
Lord Riccardo Percy: Stephen Costello
Enrico VIII: Ildar Abdrazakov
Lord Rochefort: Keith Miller
Sir Hervey: Eduardo Valdes

THE PRODUCTION TEAM
Production: David McVicar
Set Designer: Robert Jones
Costume Designer: Jenny Tiramani
Lighting Designer: Paule Constable
Choreographer: Andrew George

EXPERIENCE OPENING NIGHT AT THE MET
If you are not able to attend live the show at the Met, there are several ways to experience opening night.

For the sixth straight year, Opening Night will be transmitted live to multiple giant screens in Times Square. Approximately 2,000 seats will be available on a first come, first served basis, with additional standing room provided. Pre-show coverage, including red-carpet interviews hosted by Deborah Voigt, starts at 6pm EST.

The performance will also be shown on a screen on the Met façade, with approximately 3,000 seats available on Lincoln Center’s Josie Robertson Plaza. Pre-show coverage, including red-carpet interviews, starts at 6pm EST. Free tickets, with a limit of two per person, will be distributed at the Met box office beginning Sunday, September 25, at noon.

The Opening Night Gala will be broadcast live on Metropolitan Opera Radio on SiriusXM and streamed live on the Met’s website. Both transmissions feature pre-show coverage, starting at 6pm EST.

ANNA BOLENA PERFORMANCES AT THE MET STARRING ANNA NETREBKO
Performances of Anna Bolena at the Met starring Anna Netrebko will take place in two runs. A first run of 7 performances, from 26. September to 18. October, and a second run of 2 performances on 1. and 4. February 2012.

Anna Bolena, 2011-2012 Season Opening Night Gala Premiere, Met, New Yor 26. Sep 2011 – Anna Netrebkoª (Anna Bolena), Ekaterina Gubanova (Giovanna Seymour), Stephen Costelloª (Lord Riccardo Percy), Ildar Abdrazakovª (Enrico VIII), Tamara Mumfordª (Smeton), Keith Miller (Lord Rochefort), Eduardo Valdes (Sir Hervey); David McVicarª (Director), Chorus and Orchestra of the Metropolitan Opera Houseª, Marco Armiliatoª [Sirius/XM Radio Broadcast][Met live webstream]  

Anna Bolena, Met, New York 30. Sep 2011 – Anna Netrebko (Anna Bolena), Ekaterina Gubanova (Giovanna Seymour), Stephen Costello (Lord Riccardo Percy), Ildar Abdrazakov (Enrico VIII), Tamara Mumford (Smeton), Keith Miller (Lord Rochefort), Eduardo Valdes (Sir Hervey); David McVicar (Director), Chorus and Orchestra of the Metropolitan Opera House, Marco Armiliato  

Anna Bolena, Met, New York 3. Oct 2011 – Anna Netrebko (Anna Bolena), Ekaterina Gubanova (Giovanna Seymour), Stephen Costello (Lord Riccardo Percy), Ildar Abdrazakov (Enrico VIII), Tamara Mumford (Smeton), NN (Lord Rochefort), NN (Sir Hervey); David McVicar (Director), Chorus and Orchestra of the Metropolitan Opera House, Marco Armiliato [Sirius/XM Radio Broadcast] 

Anna Bolena, Met, New York 6. Oct 2011 – Anna Netrebko (Anna Bolena), Ekaterina Gubanova (Giovanna Seymour), Stephen Costello (Lord Riccardo Percy), Ildar Abdrazakov (Enrico VIII), Tamara Mumford (Smeton), NN (Lord Rochefort), NN (Sir Hervey); David McVicar (Director), Chorus and Orchestra of the Metropolitan Opera House, Marco Armiliato  

Anna Bolena, Met, New York 10. Oct 2011 – Anna Netrebko (Anna Bolena), Ekaterina Gubanova (Giovanna Seymour), Stephen Costello (Lord Riccardo Percy), Ildar Abdrazakov (Enrico VIII), Tamara Mumford (Smeton), NN (Lord Rochefort), NN (Sir Hervey); David McVicar (Director), Chorus and Orchestra of the Metropolitan Opera House, Marco Armiliato [Sirius/XM Radio Broadcast]  

Anna Bolena, Met, New York 15. Oct 2011 – Anna Netrebko (Anna Bolena), Ekaterina Gubanova (Giovanna Seymour), Stephen Costello (Lord Riccardo Percy), Ildar Abdrazakov (Enrico VIII), Tamara Mumford (Smeton), NN (Lord Rochefort), NN (Sir Hervey); David McVicar (Director), Chorus and Orchestra of the Metropolitan Opera House, Marco Armiliato [The Met: Live in HD]  

Anna Bolena, Met, New York 18. Oct 2011 – Anna Netrebko (Anna Bolena), Ekaterina Gubanova (Giovanna Seymour), Stephen Costello (Lord Riccardo Percy), Ildar Abdrazakov (Enrico VIII), Tamara Mumford (Smeton), NN (Lord Rochefort), NN (Sir Hervey); David McVicar (Director), Chorus and Orchestra of the Metropolitan Opera House, Marco Armiliato 

Anna Bolena, Met, New York 1. Feb 2012 – Anna Netrebko (Anna Bolena), Elina Garanca (Giovanna Seymour), Stephen Costello (Lord Riccardo Percy), Ildar Abdrazakov (Enrico VIII), Tamara Mumford (Smeton), NN (Lord Rochefort), NN (Sir Hervey); David McVicar (Director), Chorus and Orchestra of the Metropolitan Opera House, Marco Armiliato 

Anna Bolena, Met, New York 4. Feb 2012 – Anna Netrebko (Anna Bolena), Elina Garanca (Giovanna Seymour), Stephen Costello (Lord Riccardo Percy), Ildar Abdrazakov (Enrico VIII), Tamara Mumford (Smeton), NN (Lord Rochefort), NN (Sir Hervey); David McVicar (Director), Chorus and Orchestra of the Metropolitan Opera House, Marco Armiliato [Met Saturday Matinee Broadcasts]

ANNA BOLENA LIVE BROADCASTS FROM THE MET
Different performances of the run will be broadcast live on Sirius/XM, through the Saturday Matinee Broadcast series, streamed live on the Met website or transmitted live to movie theaters around the world, within the Met: Live in HD series. The broadcast's schedule is as follows:

Anna Bolena, 2011-2012 Season Opening Night Gala Premiere, Met, New Yor 26. Sep 2011 – Anna Netrebkoª (Anna Bolena), Ekaterina Gubanova (Giovanna Seymour), Stephen Costelloª (Lord Riccardo Percy), Ildar Abdrazakovª (Enrico VIII), Tamara Mumfordª (Smeton), Keith Miller (Lord Rochefort), Eduardo Valdes (Sir Hervey); David McVicarª (Director), Chorus and Orchestra of the Metropolitan Opera Houseª, Marco Armiliatoª [Sirius/XM Radio Broadcast][Met live webstream]  

Anna Bolena, Met, New York 3. Oct 2011 – Anna Netrebko (Anna Bolena), Ekaterina Gubanova (Giovanna Seymour), Stephen Costello (Lord Riccardo Percy), Ildar Abdrazakov (Enrico VIII), Tamara Mumford (Smeton), NN (Lord Rochefort), NN (Sir Hervey); David McVicar (Director), Chorus and Orchestra of the Metropolitan Opera House, Marco Armiliato [Sirius/XM Radio Broadcast]  

Anna Bolena, Met, New York 10. Oct 2011 – Anna Netrebko (Anna Bolena), Ekaterina Gubanova (Giovanna Seymour), Stephen Costello (Lord Riccardo Percy), Ildar Abdrazakov (Enrico VIII), Tamara Mumford (Smeton), NN (Lord Rochefort), NN (Sir Hervey); David McVicar (Director), Chorus and Orchestra of the Metropolitan Opera House, Marco Armiliato [Sirius/XM Radio Broadcast]  

Anna Bolena, Met, New York 15. Oct 2011 – Anna Netrebko (Anna Bolena), Elina Garanca (Giovanna Seymour), Stephen Costello (Lord Riccardo Percy), Ildar Abdrazakov (Enrico VIII), Tamara Mumford (Smeton), NN (Lord Rochefort), NN (Sir Hervey); David McVicar (Director), Chorus and Orchestra of the Metropolitan Opera House, Marco Armiliato [The Met: Live in HD] 

Anna Bolena, Met, New York 4. Feb 2012 – Anna Netrebko (Anna Bolena), Elina Garanca (Giovanna Seymour), Stephen Costello (Lord Riccardo Percy), Ildar Abdrazakov (Enrico VIII), Tamara Mumford (Smeton), NN (Lord Rochefort), NN (Sir Hervey); David McVicar (Director), Chorus and Orchestra of the Metropolitan Opera House, Marco Armiliato [Met Saturday Matinee Broadcasts]

ANNA NETREBKO ROLE DEBUT AS ANNA BOLENA
Anna Netrebko made her outstanding worlwide debut as Anna Bolena on 2. April 2011 at the Wiener Staatsoper. Deutsche Grammophon will release a live video recording of those performances. A 2 DVD video will be internationally released on 14. October 2011 and the Blu-Ray disc version will be released on 4. November 2011.

Dress Rehearsal, Anna Bolena, Met, NYC 22. Sep 2011

The Metropolitan Opera’s sixth season of free open dress rehearsals has begun on 22. September with the company premiere of Donizetti’s Anna Bolena, starring Anna Netrebko in the title role. The production, which opens the Met’s 2011-12 season on 26. September, is directed by David McVicar and conducted by Marco Armiliato. The cast also stars Ekaterina Gubanova as Jane Seymour, Ildar Abdrazakov as Henry VIII, Stephen Costello as Lord Riccardo Percy and Tamara Mumford as Smeton.

The 2,500 free tickets, limited to two per person, have been distributed through an online drawing held on the Met’s website.



ANNA BOLENA
Music by Gaetano Donizetti
Text by Felici Romani

Dress Rehearsal, Met, NYC 22. Sep 2011

CAST
Conductor: Marco Armiliato
Anna Bolena: Anna Netrebko
Giovanna Seymour: Ekaterina Gubanova
Smeton: Tamara Mumford
Lord Riccardo Percy: Stephen Costello
Enrico VIII: Ildar Abdrazakov

THE PRODUCTION TEAM
Production: David McVicar
Set Designer: Robert Jones
Costume Designer: Jenny Tiramani
Lighting Designer: Paule Constable
Choreographer: Andrew George

REPORTS
Howard's wife, Paula, attended the show and sent a message to her husband at the intermission. Howard shared Paula's impressions with us:

"She was so impressed with costumes, lighting and staging but emphasized that singing was simply glorious. Costello is wonderful as was rest of cast. She said that this was Anna's new defining moment."

John also attended the show and said:

"I was very fortunate to attend the dress rehersal for Anna Bolena today at the Met. In spite of a stage elevator glitch the performance was one of the best I have ever seen. Well done to the cast and crew of the Met and to the generous benefactors who make it happen. I enjoyed Anna's performance most of all, she owns this role. I have tickets to a performance of Anna Bolena later in the season. I can't wait to see her perform the role again." 

Check La Cieca's Blog Parterre Box for more reports.

VIDEO
"Coppia Iniqua" - Anna Bolena, Met, NYC 22. Sep 2011

Les Contes d'Hoffmann premieres at Great Performances at the Met on 24. Mar 2010

The performance of Offenbach's Les Contes d'Hoffmann held at the Met on 19. December 2009 premieres on Thirteen’s "Great Performances at the Met" series on Wednesday 24. March 2010 at 9 PM ET.

Starting 25. March 2010, Les Contes d'Hoffmann will be available in HD on the Met Player.

Joseph Calleja sings the title role and is joined on stage by Kate Lindsey as Nicklausse and The Muse, Anna Netrebko as Antonia and Stella, Kathleen Kim as Olympia, Ekaterina Gubanova as Giulietta and Alan Held as the Four Villains. James Levine conducts the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and Bartlett Sher is the stage director.

Cast changes on tonight's performance of "Les Contes d'Hoffmann" at the Met

Three cast changes have been made for tonight's performance of "Les Contes d'Hoffmann" due to illness. Rachele Gilmore makes her Met debut replacing Kathleen Kim as Olympia. Laura Vlasak Nolan replaces Ekaterina Gubanova as Giulietta. Joel Sorensen replaces Alan Oke singing the four servants.

Les Contes d'Hoffmann, Met, New York 19. Dec 2009

On 19. December 2009 it was the fifth performance of the run of the new Met production of Offenbach's "Les Contes d'Hoffmann", starring Joseph Calleja as Hoffmann, Anna Netrebko as Antonia/Stella, Kathleen Kim as Olympia, Ekaterina Gubanova as Giulietta, Alan Held as the four villains and Kate Lindsey as Nicklausse/Muse. James Levine conducted the Chorus and Orchestra of the Metropolitan Opera House. The production was by Tony Award winner Bartlett Sher.

The performance on 19. Dec 2009 has been transmitted live to selected movie theaters around the world as part of The Met: Live in HD Series. It has been also live broadcast over the Toll Brothers-Metropolitan Opera International Radio Network.

It will be broadcast on Great Performances at the Met on PBS on Wednesday 24. March 2010.

Les Contes d'Hoffmann
Music by Jacques Offenbach
Libretto by Jules Barbier and Michel Carré, based on stories by E.T.A. Hoffmann

Metropolitan Opera House, New York 19. December 2009

Cast
Hoffmann: Joseph Calleja
Olympia: Kathleen Kim
Antonia: Anna Netrebko
Giulietta: Ekaterina Gubanova
Stella: Anna Netrebko
Lindorf: Alan Held
Coppélius: Alan Held
Dappertutto: Alan Held
Dr. Miracle: Alan Held
Nicklausse: Kate Lindsey
Muse: Kate Lindsey
Andrès: Alan Oke
Cochenille: Alan Oke
Pitichinaccio: Alan Oke
Frantz: Alan Oke
Luther: Dean Peterson
Nathanael: Rodell Rosel
Hermann: Michael Todd Simpson
Spalanzani: Mark Schowalter
Schlemil: Michael Todd Simpson
Crespel: Dean Peterson
Antonia's Mother Voice: Wendy White

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

Production
Production: Bartlett Sher
Set Designer: Michael Yeargan
Costume Designer: Catherine Zuber
Lighting Designer: James F. Ingalls
Choreographer: Dou Dou Huang

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

Upcoming Live Broadcasts
The performances on 23. and 30. Dec 2009 will be live broadcast on Sirius Satellite Radio channel 78 and XM channel 79. Furthermore the performance on 23. Dec 2009 will be live broadcast via RealNetworks internet streaming on the Met website.

Reports
Our friend Howard and his wife Paula attended this performance live at the Met. Howard kindly wrote the followind detailed report for the blog:

My wife Paula and I attended the "Les Contes d'Hoffmann" performance at the MET on 19-December which was also simulcast around the world as a live broadcast. As snow was encroaching on New York City, the crowds came out to see the Tales of Hoffmann.

I totally agree with Irina, that there is truly nothing like a live performance, although this spectacle deserves a second review with the encore HD performance in January. Although there were some vacant seats due the inclement weather it was clear that Netrebko has her devoted following. The gift shop was playing a DVD of her Berlin Concert with Villazon and Domingo and copies were literally flying off the shelves. One woman flew in from Dallas just for this performance. The MET intentionally sanitized this production leaving out the partial nudity (G strings and pasties) reviewed by Anthony Tommasini of the New York Times.

There was a rousing ovation for James Levine who recently returned from back surgery for a ruptured disc. He has the uncanny ability to allow the orchestra to support, but not overpower the singers. Bartlet Sher the director pretty much took a static opera with no dimension of time or change of venue. and made a spectacle of the opera. While there were some incongruities, it pretty much came off rather well and was very well received.

Olympia, the mechanical doll played by Kathleen Kim was adorable, cute and sang with coloratura ease. She danced and walked like a mechanized doll as the voice lifted just like a young adolescent nymph. This was not the role for Netrebko. Although other productions have had wind up keys built into the costume, this rendition was just adorable. Ekaterina Gubanova as Giuletta was stiff and uninspiring. The part of Nicklausse sung by Kate Lindsay was just average, as her voice and expression appear not ready for prime time. Alan Held had a commanding presence as Dr. Miracle and sang with convincing authority.

The clear winners of the afternoon were Joseph Calleja as Hoffmann and Anna Netrebko as Antonia. Calleja displayed confidence, presence and endurance. His voice has an unusual tenderness and affection that is reminiscent of Jussi Bjorling. Calleja had strength, the ability to project and literally sang the entire opera without much rest. His tenderness in recounting his lost loves came across with passion and conviction. This is an enormous role early in his career and it was clear that he was up to the task.

Although Anna Netrebko's role as Antonia in the 2nd act was limited, she ruled the stage with passion, illumination and exquisite acting ability. One only has to think of her Salzburg Traviata for an analogy. Her deep Slavic tone and elegant poise was well suited to this role. She truly commanded the stage and all around her. Her duets with Hoffman were poignant, elegant and dramatic. She had the ability the sing along with his commanding presence. She was dressed in a beautiful nightgown that highlighted her style, grace and sumptuous figure. It is evident that she has lost much weight after her pregnancy, but her voice and timbre have become richer, more colored and exquisite. There were time when you could pick out her voice on top of the chorus. She has not lost her high register at all and there were some hints of exquisite trills in her singing. In short, this role was made for her, a sumptuous, melancholy lover with a great sense of pathos and drama.

At intermission, I met a gentlemen who was at her MET debut in War and Peace. He said that he heard a lone voice above the chorus that transcended all. He said that he knew then that she was very special as only time would demonstrate. He loved her role here, but was not as enthusiastic about her coloratura capabilities in Lucia last year.

The production did have some weaknesses that seemed to detract from the overall message. In the opening of the third act which simulated an orgy or bordello, the well choreographed dancers with exquisitely flexible bodies were on top of men reminiscent of strippers at a bar. Their modern day costumes seemed out of place from the elegant victorian gowns and long coat worn by Hoffmann. My wife found some of this mildly offensive and inappropriate. If this was the sanitized version, I am sure that other performances had similar responses.

Parts of the opera appeared to make fun of the Jews and were mildly anti-Semitic in nature. While not offensive, it is clear that Bartlet Sher chose to highlight these issues in his interpretation. I found it to be mildly amusing and perhaps this reflects some of Offenbach's beliefs.

Some general thoughts are in order. Having attended opera and concerts throughout Europe, I am astounded by the lack of decorum of many participants in the audience. On a Saturday afternoon where tickets are rather expensive, I am shocked by people dressed in dungarees and sweatshirts. My opinion is that the audience should be respectful to others in the audience as well as the performers. People sitting next to me in the opera talked throughout the opera and you could hear the incessant vibration of cell phone and occasional audible ones that were extremely bothersome. As Hoffmann was singing his heart out in the 3rd act, a cell phone went off at the most inopportune time. I realize that times are much more casual than in the past, but a modicum of decorum, appropriate dress and behavior is a rather low bar for such an exquisite art form.

In closing our trip to NYC was well worth the effort. Netrebko was enchanting, ravishing and skilled in her abilities. Our trip home was delayed by snow and ice, but fortunately we had a young female bus driver that was safety conscious, courteous and skilled in her driving abilities. She had to stop 4-5 times to clear ice from the wipers. Fortunately she beat the storm as she traveled North to Boston.

Looking forward to Boheme later this spring as well as Carmen with Garanca.

On-line Press Reports
Channeling Fellini - The Wall Street Journal, 22. Dec 2009 - By Heidi Waleson [English]
Offenbach: Les Contes d'Hoffmann - Musical Criticism, 27. Dec 2009 - By David Abrams [English]
`Los cuentos de Hoffmann' una joya del siglo XXI - El Nuevo Herald, 29. Dec 2009 - By Daniel Fernandez [Spanish]

On-line Blog Reports
Mark Ronan's Theatre Reviews: Les Contes d’Hoffmann, Metropolitan Opera live relay, December 2009
Can Belto: An even better Hoffman
Maldito Candelabro: "Hoffmann" desde el Met: Sensualidad decadente
CNY Café Momus: The Met’s Contes d’Hoffmann: an engaging journey from id to ego to ear

Videoclips
"Elle a fui, la tourterelle", Les Contes d'Hoffmann, Met 19. Dec 2009 - Anna Netrebko


Deborah Voigt interviews Joseph Calleja and Anna Netrebko, Les Contes d'Hoffmann, Met 19. Dec 2009


Finale, Les Contes d'Hoffmann, Met 19. Dec 2009


Related Posts
Les Contes d'Hoffmann, Met, New York 3. December 2009

Les Contes d'Hoffmann, Met, New York 7. Dec 2009

On 7. December 2009 it was the second performance of the run of the new Met production of Offenbach's "Les Contes d'Hoffmann", starring Joseph Calleja as Hoffmann, Anna Netrebko as Antonia/Stella, Kathleen Kim as Olympia, Ekaterina Gubanova as Giulietta, Alan Held as the four villains and Kate Lindsey as Nicklausse/Muse. James Levine conducted the Chorus and Orchestra of the Metropolitan Opera House. The production was by Tony Award winner Bartlett Sher.

Les Contes d'Hoffmann
Music by Jacques Offenbach
Libretto by Jules Barbier and Michel Carré, based on stories by E.T.A. Hoffmann

Metropolitan Opera House, New York 7. December 2009

Cast
Hoffmann: Joseph Calleja
Olympia: Kathleen Kim
Antonia: Anna Netrebko
Giulietta: Ekaterina Gubanova
Stella: Anna Netrebko
Lindorf: Alan Held
Coppélius: Alan Held
Dappertutto: Alan Held
Dr. Miracle: Alan Held
Nicklausse: Kate Lindsey
Muse: Kate Lindsey
Andrès: Alan Oke
Cochenille: Alan Oke
Pitichinaccio: Alan Oke
Frantz: Alan Oke
Luther: Dean Peterson
Nathanael: Rodell Rosel
Hermann: Michael Todd Simpson
Spalanzani: Mark Schowalter
Schlemil: Michael Todd Simpson
Crespel: Dean Peterson
Antonia's Mother Voice: Wendy White

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

Production
Production: Bartlett Sher
Set Designer: Michael Yeargan
Costume Designer: Catherine Zuber
Lighting Designer: James F. Ingalls
Choreographer: Dou Dou Huang

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

Upcoming Live Broadcasts
The performances on 11., 19., 23. and 30. Dec 2009 will be live broadcast on Sirius Satellite Radio channel 78 and XM channel 79. The performance on 19. Dec 2009 will be transmitted live to selected movie theaters around the world as part of The Met: Live in HD Series. The performance on 19. Dec 2009 will be also live broadcast over the Toll Brothers-Metropolitan Opera International Radio Network and the one on 23. Dec 2009 will be live broadcast via RealNetworks internet streaming on the Met website.

Press Reports
John Yohalem wrote on Opera Today,

Netrebko sang the most powerful Antonia since Sutherland, and in Sher’s vision (which is not Offenbach’s), her grand operatic posturing worked very well.

On-line Press Reports
Les Contes d’Hoffmann at the MET - Opera Today - By John Yohalem

Related Posts
Les Contes d'Hoffmann, Met, New York 3. December 2009

Anna Netrebko at the annual benefit dinner for the White Nights Foundation

The annual benefit dinner for the White Nights Foundation took place at the Four Seasons restaurant last night, on 9. Dec 2009. The Mariinsky’s artistic director, Valery Gergiev, flew in to attend the dinner, flying out the next morning.

The evening included performances by Russian musicians, like opera singers Anna Netrebko and Ekaterina Gubanova, each of whom took solos and then together sang a selection from Offenbach's “Les Contes d'Hoffmann”, the opera that they are currently singing at the Metropolitan Opera House.

Press
At Mariinsky Theatre Benefit, Sandy Weill Discusses Arts Charity in a Down Economy - Speakeasy - By Steven Kurutz, 10. Dec 2009 [English]

Les Contes d'Hoffmann, Met, New York 3. December 2009

Today on 3. December 2009 it has been the season premiere of the new Met production of Offenbach's "Les Contes d'Hoffmann", starring Joseph Calleja as Hoffmann, Anna Netrebko as Antonia/Stella, Kathleen Kim as Olympia, Ekaterina Gubanova as Giulietta, Alan Held as the four villains and Kate Lindsey as Nicklausse/Muse. James Levine conducted the Chorus and Orchestra of the Metropolitan Opera House. The production was by Tony Award winner Bartlett Sher.

Joseph Calleja has made his role debut as Hoffmann. As it was announced in exclusive on this blog on 26. May 2009, Joseph Calleja replaced Rolando Villazón who cancelled his appearance when he announced in April that he needed surgery to remove a cyst on his larynx.

Kathleen Kim has made also her role debut as Olympia, the mechanical doll.

Anna Netrebko made her role debut as Antonia at the Mariinsky Theater, St. Petersburg on 11. November 2000 in a performance conducted by Gianandrea Noseda and directed by Marta Domingo. The critic of the St. Petersburg Times wrote that "her captivating performance was the genuine highlight of the production. Her tormented Antonia, suffering over the paths she had to choose, was pierced with despair."

Ekaterina Gubanova has made her role debut as Giulietta. She made her Met debut in 2007 as Hélène Bezukhova in War and Peace.

Kate Lindsey has made also her role debut as Nicklausse/The Muse, replacing Elina Garanca who decided to withdraw and to sing the title role in the upcoming performances of Carmen at the Met, when Angela Gheorghiu withdraw from those performances.

Alan Held made his debut as the four villains at the Met in 1993. He has replaced René Pape who decided not to add the four villains to his repertoire.

A number of first impressions about the performance, collected during the live broadcast, can be read at the comments sections of a post published on Parterre Box.

Les Contes d'Hoffmann
Music by Jacques Offenbach
Libretto by Jules Barbier and Michel Carré, based on stories by E.T.A. Hoffmann

Season Premiere
Metropolitan Opera House, New York 3. December 2009

Cast
Hoffmann: Joseph Calleja
Olympia: Kathleen Kim
Antonia: Anna Netrebko
Giulietta: Ekaterina Gubanova
Stella: Anna Netrebko
Lindorf: Alan Held
Coppélius: Alan Held
Dappertutto: Alan Held
Dr. Miracle: Alan Held
Nicklausse: Kate Lindsey
Muse: Kate Lindsey
Andrès: Alan Oke
Cochenille: Alan Oke
Pitichinaccio: Alan Oke
Frantz: Alan Oke
Luther: Dean Peterson
Nathanael: Rodell Rosel
Hermann: Michael Todd Simpson
Spalanzani: Mark Schowalter
Schlemil: Michael Todd Simpson
Crespel: Dean Peterson
Antonia's Mother Voice: Wendy White

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

Production
Production: Bartlett Sher
Set Designer: Michael Yeargan
Costume Designer: Catherine Zuber
Lighting Designer: James F. Ingalls
Choreographer: Dou Dou Huang

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

Live Broadcasts
The premiere on 3. Dec 2009 has been live broadcast on Sirius Satellite Radio channel 78 and XM channel 79 and via RealNetworks internet streaming on the Met website.

The performances on 11., 19., 23. and 30. Dec 2009 will be live broadcast on Sirius Satellite Radio channel 78 and XM channel 79. The performance on 19. Dec 2009 will be transmitted live to selected movie theaters around the world as part of The Met: Live in HD Series. The performance on 19. Dec 2009 will be also live broadcast over the Toll Brothers-Metropolitan Opera International Radio Network and the one on 23. Dec 2009 will be live broadcast via RealNetworks internet streaming on the Met website.

Press Reports
Anthony Tommasini, talking about Anna Netrebko, wrote on The New York Times,

[...] she was vocally lustrous, charismatic and wrenching as Antonia [...]. She also made a captivating and tart Stella [...]

The review published on Parterre Box says,

[...] Netrebko was rapturous as Antonia, bathing us in her sweet sound, and showing both detail and presence in all parts of her range.

Ronni Reich wrote on the nj.com,

Here, full focus was on soprano Anna Netrebko, and rightfully so. Virtually unmatched in her luscious tone, Netrebko sang as if each phrase were truly her last, surprisingly full-throated, a little wild, and absolutely spellbinding.

On-line Press Reports
An Unamplified Voice: Hoffmann (after), 3. Dec 2009 [English]
Parterre Box: der musensohn, 4. Dec 2009 [English]
My Favorite Intermissions: Jar of Eyeballs, 4. Dec 2009 [English]
Can Belto: Hoffmann opening night: Success!, 4. Dec 2009 [English]
The Old Stories, Updated With G-Strings - The New York Times - By Anthony Tommasini, 4. Dec 2009 [English]
No shortage of tales in this `Hoffmann' at the Met - San Francisco Chronicle - By Ronald Blum, AP, 4. Dec 2009 [English]
Les Contes d'Hoffmann - Theatermania - By David Finkle, 5. Dec 2009 [English]
'Rousing ovation' for Calleja's Hoffmann at New York Met - Times of Malta - 6. Dec 2009 [English]
Good muse at the Met: Netrebko and clever staging lift Offenbach opera - nj.com - By Ronni Reich, 7. Dec 2009 [English]

Audioclips
Les Contes d'Hoffmann, 2. Act - Antonia, Romance: "Elle a fui, la tourterelle!", Antonia. Uploaded to Youtube by RickBanner.


Les Contes d'Hoffmann, 2. Act - Antonia, Duet: "C'est une chanson d'amour", Hoffmann, Antonia. Uploaded to Youtube by RickBanner.


Les Contes d'Hoffmann, 2. Act - Antonia, Duet: "Ne plus chanter! hélas!", Hoffmann Antonia. Uploaded to Youtube by RickBanner.


Les Contes d'Hoffmann, 2. Act - Antonia, Trio Final: "Tu ne chanteras plus?", Antonia, Antonia's Mother Voice, Miracle. Uploaded to Youtube by RickBanner.


Les Contes d'Hoffmann, 2. Act - Antonia, Trio Final, Antonia, Antonia's Mother Voice, Miracle. Uploaded to Youtube by RickBanner.


Les Contes d'Hoffmann, 2. Act - Antonia, Final Scene: "Mon père! Écoutez! c'est ma mère!", Antonia. Uploaded to Youtube by RickBanner.


Les Contes d'Hoffmann, Epilogue. Uploaded to Youtube by RickBanner.


Videoclips
In this videoclip uploaded to Youtube by wnycradio, Stage Director Bartlett Sher talks about his interpretation of the opera


Photos
A wonderful collection of photos by Ken Howard/Metropolitan Opera is available at the Archives of the Metopera Database.

Here you can get some additional photos, at the curtains calls and at the stage door, kindly provided by the author.

Les Contes d'Hoffmann, Met 3. Dec 2009. Final curtains call. Photo: Raul

Les Contes d'Hoffmann, Met 3. Dec 2009. Final curtains call. Photo: Raul

Les Contes d'Hoffmann, Met 3. Dec 2009. Final curtains call. Photo: Raul

Les Contes d'Hoffmann, Met 3. Dec 2009. Bartlett Sher and Kate Lindsey at the stage door. Photo: Raul

Les Contes d'Hoffmann, Met 3. Dec 2009. Alan Held at the stage door. Photo: Raul

Les Contes d'Hoffmann, Met 3. Dec 2009. Kathleen Kim at the stage door. Photo: Raul

Les Contes d'Hoffmann, Met 3. Dec 2009. Ekaterina Gubanova at the stage door. Photo: Raul

Les Contes d'Hoffmann, Met 3. Dec 2009. Joseph Calleja at the stage door. Photo: Raul

Les Contes d'Hoffmann, Met 3. Dec 2009. Anna Netrebko at the stage door. Photo: Raul

Related Press Articles
Swan Song of Offenbach, the Outsider - The New York Times - By Vivien Schweitzer, 25. November 2009 [English]
"We Belong": Previewing the Met's New Production of Hoffman - PlaybillArts - By William Berger, 26 November 2009 [English]
For tenor from Malta, a star-making role? - Examiner - By Mike Silverman, AP, 27. November 2009 [English]
Met Opera's LES CONTES D'HOFFMANN Begins 12/3, Conducted By James Levine and Directed by Bartlett Sher - BroadwayWorld.com, 1. Dec 2009 [English]
Culture Zohn: Les Contes d'Hoffmann (Tales of Hoffmann), or, a Four-Way Gets Complicated - The Huffington Post - By Patricia Zohn, 3. Dec 2009 [English]

Les Contes d'Hoffmann, Final Dress Rehearsal, Met, New York 30. November 2009

The final dress rehearsal of the new Met production of Offenbach's "Les Contes d'Hoffmann" starring Joseph Calleja as Hoffmann, Anna Netrebko as Antonia/Stella, Kathleen Kim as Olympia, Ekaterina Gubanova as Giulietta, Alan Held as the Four Villains and Kate Lindsey as Nicklausse/Muse, took place yesterday, on 30. November 2009. James Levine conducted the Chorus and Orchestra of the Metropolitan Opera House. The production was by Bartlett Sher.

Three thousand free tickets to the final dress rehearsal were made available through on online drawing on the Met’s website.

The staging, costumes and sets of this new Bartlett Sher's production were gorgeous. Joseph Calleja, who had been fighting a sinus/pharynx infection on the last days, was not feeling well and he sang Hoffmann only in the first act, being replaced by David Pomeroy.

The official season premiere of "Les Contes d'Hoffmann" will take place on 3. December 2009 and it will be broadcast live on Sirius Satellite Radio channel 78 and XM channel 79, as well as on the Met free live audio stream. The performance on 19. December 2009 will be broadcast live to select movie theaters around the world within the MET Live in HD Performances Series

Les Contes d'Hoffmann
Music by Jacques Offenbach
Libretto by Jules Barbier and Michel Carré, based on stories by E.T.A. Hoffmann

Final Dress Rehearsal
Metropolitan Opera House, New York 30. November 2009

Cast
Hoffmann: Joseph Calleja, Prologue, Act I/David Pomeroy, Acts II, III, Epilogue
Olympia: Kathleen Kim
Antonia: Anna Netrebko
Giulietta: Ekaterina Gubanova
Stella: Anna Netrebko
Lindorf: Alan Held
Coppélius: Alan Held
Dappertutto: Alan Held
Dr. Miracle: Alan Held
Nicklausse: Kate Lindsey
Muse: Kate Lindsey
Andrès: Alan Oke
Cochenille: Alan Oke
Pitichinaccio: Alan Oke
Frantz: Alan Oke
Luther: Dean Peterson
Nathanael: Rodell Rosel
Hermann: Michael Todd Simpson
Spalanzani: Mark Schowalter
Schlemil: Michael Todd Simpson
Crespel: Dean Peterson
Antonia's Mother Voice: Wendy White

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

Production
Production: Bartlett Sher
Set Designer: Michael Yeargan
Costume Designer: Catherine Zuber
Lighting Designer: James F. Ingalls
Choreographer: Dou Dou Huang

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

Blog Reports
What I read and Watched: Les Contes d'Hoffmann at the Met
A Liberal's Libretto: The Dreams of Hoffmann
Parterre Box: Gualtier tells "Tales"

Related Press Articles
Swan Song of Offenbach, the Outsider - The New York Times - By Vivien Schweitzer, 25. November 2009 [English]
"We Belong": Previewing the Met's New Production of Hoffman - PlaybillArts - By William Berger, 26 November 2009 [English]
For tenor from Malta, a star-making role? - Examiner - By Mike Silverman, AP, 27. November 2009 [English]
Met Opera's LES CONTES D'HOFFMANN Begins 12/3, Conducted By James Levine and Directed by Bartlett Sher - BroadwayWorld.com, 1. Dec 2009 [English]
Culture Zohn: Les Contes d'Hoffmann (Tales of Hoffmann), or, a Four-Way Gets Complicated - The Huffington Post - By Patricia Zohn, 3. Dec 2009 [English]

Videoclips
In this videoclip uploaded to Youtube by wnycradio, Stage Director Bartlett Sher talks about his interpretation of the opera