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.

Deutsche Grammophon releases the album "Anna Netrebko - Live at the Metropolitan Opera"

Deutsche Grammophon releases the album "Anna Netrebko - Live at the Metropolitan Opera".

The CD, which will be released on 16. Sep 2011, includes works by Prokofiev, Mozart, Bellini, Donizetti, Verdi, Gounod, Offenbach and Puccini.

Anna Netrebko sings with top opera singers such as Dimitri Hvorostovsky, Juan Diego Florez, Roberto Alagna, Joseph Calleja and Piotr Beczala.

Valery Gerviev, Sylvain Cambreling, Placido Domingo and James Levine conduct the Metroplitan Opera Orchestra.

Live At The Met features excerpts from live performances on the Met stage from La Boheme, Don Giovanni, War &Peace, I Puritani, Les Contes d'Hoffmann, Romeo etJuliette, Don Pasquale and Lucia di Lammermoor.

TRACK LIST
1. Bellini I Puritani Act 2 Aria: "Qui la voce" Elvira Rec. 1/6/2007
2. Prokofiev War & Peace Act 1, Sc. 1 "Ya ne budu.." + Duet "Kak solntze za garoi" Natasha Rec. 3/2/2002
3. Mozart Don Giovanni Act 2 Aria: "Vedrai carino" Zerlina Rec. 2/15/2003
4. Donizetti Don Pasquale Act 3, Finale Finale: "Senz'andar lungi ... La morale in tutto questo" Norina Rec. 4/15/2006
5. Verdi Rigoletto Act 3 Terzetto: "Ah piu non ragiono" Gilda Rec. 12/17/2005
6. Gounod Roméo et Juliette Act 4, Sc.1 Duet: "Nuit d'hyménée!" Juliette Rec. 12/15/2007
7. Gounod Roméo et Juliette Act 4, Sc.4 Aria: "Ah Dieu! Quel frisson...Amour, ranime mon courage" Juliette Rec. 12/15/2007
8. Donizetti Lucia di Lammermoor Act 2, Sc.5 Aria: "Il dolce suono...Ardon gli incensi..." Lucia Rec. 2/7/2009
9. Offenbach Les Contes d'Hoffmann Act 3 Duet: "Pourtant, ô ma fiancée" ... C'est une chanson d'amour" Antonia Rec. 12/19/2009
10. Puccini La Bohème Act 3 Aria: "D'onde lieta usci" MimÌ Rec. 2/27/2010
11. Puccini La Bohème Act 1 Duet: "O soave fanciulla" MimÌ Rec. 2/27/2010

Information about the cast and conductor for each one of the above shown recording dates can be found at the Anna Netrebko Performances Database.

Check the Deutsche Grammophon "Live at the Metroplitan Opera" special site

Deutsche Grammophon Promotional Videoclip

BREAKING NEWS - Anna Netrebko and Joseph Calleja will not join the Met Tour to Japan

Met officials said on Monday that star soprano Anna Netrebko and star tenor Joseph Calleja will not take part of the Met Tour to Japan 2011. The two stars dropped out at the last minute due to their concerns about nuclear radiation following the March earthquake, tsunami and nuclear plant disaster.

Ms. Netrebko has made a public statement posted on her official website. "This was an incredibly difficult decision for me; it was made on a very personal level with a great deal of pain and conflicting emotions." said Netrebko.

Ms. Netrebko and Mr. Calleja only made their intentions known last week, days before the begin of the tour. In a statement, the Met said, "Ms. Netrebko changed her mind because of the emotional weight of having also lived through the tragedy of Chernobyl." Mr. Calleja "also had last-minute misgivings", the Met said.

James Levine, due to health issues, and Jonas Kaufmann also dropped out of the tour some weeks ago.

Barbara Frittoli, who sings the role of Elisabeth in Verdi's "Don Carlos", will substitute Ms. Netrebko as Mimi in Puccini's "La Bohème". Marina Poplavskaya will join the tour to sing Elisabeth, a role she filled during the season in New York.

The Met contacted the tenors Marcelo Álvarez, Rolando Villazón and Alexey Dolgov, and they agreed to fill in for performances by Mr. Calleja. Mr. Alvarez will sing the role of Rodolfo in two performances of Puccini's "La Bohème" and Mr. Alvarez and Mr.Villazón will each sing the role of Edgardo in one performance of Donizetti's "Lucia di Lammermoor". Piotr Beczala already was taking turns in both roles.

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

"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 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

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

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

Metropolitan Opera Announces Three Week Tour To Japan From May 30 to June 20, 2011

The Metropolitan Opera announced plans today to return to Japan for a three-week tour in June 2011, presenting 13 performances of three fully staged operas in Tokyo and Nagoya. The operas will include Puccini’s La Bohème and Verdi’s Don Carlo, both conducted by Met Music Director James Levine, and Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor, conducted by Gianandrea Noseda.

Star singers include Ildar Abdrazakov, Piotr Beczala, Olga Borodina, Joseph Calleja, Diana Damrau, Dmitri Hvorostovky, Jonas Kaufmann, Mariusz Kwiecien, Željko Lučić, Anna Netrebko and René Pape.

Performances will begin on June 4 at the Aichi Prefectural Arts Center in Nagoya with La Bohème, starring Anna Netrebko, Susanna Phillips, Piotr Beczala and Mariusz Kwiecien. Piotr Beczala and Joseph Calleja will share the roles of Rodolfo in La Bohème and Edgardo in Lucia di Lammermoor.

This will be the Met’s seventh tour to Japan; the first was in 1975 and the most recent was in 2006. The tour is being presented by the Japan Arts Corporation of Tokyo and the Crown Sponsor is KDDI. Anna Netrebko was in four performances of Mozart's Don Giovanni of the 2006 Met Tour to Japan, with a strong cast starring Anna Netrebko as Donna Anna, Erwin Schrott as Don Giovanni, Matthew Polenzani as Don Ottavio, Melanie Diener as Donna Elvira, René Pape as Leporello, Magdalena Kozena as Zerlina and Jonathan Lemalu as Masetto.

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).

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).

Related Links
Metropolitan Opera Press Release: Metropolitan Opera Announces Three Week Tour To Japan From June 5 to June 24, 2011

Related Posts
Anna Netrebko | 2010-2011 Season

Cast changes in Les Contes d'Hoffmann at the Met

Bass René Pape has withdrawn from the Metropolitan Opera’s new production of Offenbach’s “Les Contes d’Hoffmann” opening on 3. December. Pape has decided not to add the four villains to his repertory, the company said Tuesday. Alan Held will now sing the roles of Lindorf, Coppelius, Dappertutto and Dr. Miracle.

As it was announced in exclusive on this blog on 26. May 2009, tenor Joseph Calleja will replace Rolando Villazón as Hoffmann, who canceled his appearance when he announced in April that he needed surgery to remove a cyst on his larynx.

The production, conducted by James Levine and John Keenan (23., 26. and 30. December 2009), includes Anna Netrebko as Antonia and Elina Garanca and Kate Lindsey (26., 30. December 2009 and 2. January 2010) as Nicklausse.

The Dec. 19 performance will be simulcast in HD to theaters around the world.

Anna Netrebko 2009-2010 Season