The Metropolitan Opera premieres of Sergei Prokofiev�s "War and Peace"
and Ermanno Wolf-Ferrari�s "Sly," and new productions of Bellini�s
"Norma," Verdi�s "Luisa Miller," and Richard Strauss� "Die
Frau ohne Schatten" highlight the repertory for the Metropolitan Opera�s
33-week 2001-2002 season, announced today by Joseph Volpe, general manager,
and James Levine, artistic director.
The season will open on Monday, September 24, with an all-Verdi Gala Performance
conducted by Maestro Levine. A continuation of the company�s commemoration of
the 100th anniversary of the death of Giuseppe Verdi, the Opening
Night Gala Performance includes staged acts from three of the composer�s best
known works: Act I of "Un Ballo in Maschera" with Deborah Voigt as
Amelia, Youngok Shin as Oscar, Larissa Diadkova as Ulrica, Neil Shicoff as Riccardo,
and Alexandru Agache as Renato; Act III of "Otello" with Veronica
Villarroel as Desdemona, Plácido Domingo as Otello, Paul Charles Clarke
as Cassio, and Nikolai Putilin as Iago; and Act III of "Rigoletto"
with Angela Gheorghiu as Gilda, Roberto Alagna as the Duke, Franz Grundheber
as Rigoletto, Daniela Barcellona in her company debut as Maddalena, and Sergei
Koptchak as Sparafucile.
The Verdi Celebration continues with the opening of the new production of "Luisa
Miller" on October 26 conducted by Maestro Levine, and two notable revivals:
the classic 1964 production of "Falstaff" in a newly restored and re-staged
version under the direction of Franco Zeffirelli and conducted by Maestro Levine;
as well as the return to the repertory of "Don Carlo," conducted by principal
guest conductor, Valery Gergiev.
Marina Mescheriakova takes the title role of "Luisa Miller," with Denyce Graves
as Federica, Neil Shicoff as Rodolfo, Nikolai Putilin as Miller, Carlo Colombara
as Walter, and Phillip Ens as Wurm. The new production is by Elijah Moshinsky,
Santo Loquasto designs the sets and costumes in his company debut, and Duane
Schuler designs the lighting. Bryn Terfel takes the title role of "Falstaff,"
which opens on March 21, 2002, with Camilla Tilling in her Met debut as Nannetta,
Ms. Mescheriakova as Alice Ford, Stephanie Blythe as Mistress Quickly, Susanne
Mentzer as Meg Page, Gregory Turay as Fenton, and Dwayne Croft as Ford. The
opening night cast for the revival of "Don Carlo" on December 29 includes Galina
Gorchakova as Elisabeth, Olga Borodina as Eboli, Richard Margison as Don Carlo,
Dmitri Hvorostovsky as Rodrigo, Samuel Ramey as King Philip, and Paata Burchuladze
as the Grand Inquisitor.
Valery Gergiev will also be on the podium for the company premiere of "War
and Peace" on February 14, 2002. The opening night cast includes Anna Netrebko
in her Met debut as Natasha Rostova, Ekaterina Semenchuk in her company debut
as Sonya, Elena Obraztsova as Mme. Akhrosimova, Gegam Grigorian as Count Pierre
Bezukhov, Dmitri Hvorostovsky as Prince Andrey, Vassily Gerello as Napoleon
Bonaparte, and Samuel Ramey as Field Marshal Kutuzov. "War and Peace" is a co-production
with St. Petersburg's Mariinsky Theatre. Making debuts with the production are
the director Andrei Konchalovsky, the costume designer Tatiana Noginova, and
the choreographer Sergei Gritsai. George Tsypin designs the sets and the lighting
is designed by James F. Ingalls.
The Metropolitan Opera premiere of "Sly," on April 1, 2002, will be conducted
by Marco Armiliato, with Maria Guleghina as Dolly, Pl�cido Domingo in the title
role, Juan Pons as the Count of Westmoreland, and John Fanning as John Plake.
The production is from the Washington Opera, and is directed by Marta Domingo,
who is making her Metropolitan Opera debut. The sets and costumes are designed
by Michael Scott and the lighting is designed by Duane Schuler.
"Norma," which has not been heard at the Met since the 1981-82 season, returns
in a new production on October 11. Jane Eaglen assumes the title role, with
Dolora Zajick as Adalgisa, Richard Margison as Pollione, and Carlo Colombara
as Oroveso. Carlo Rizzi conducts, John Copley is the director, the sets and
costumes are designed by John Conklin, and the lighting is designed by Duane
Schuler.
"Die Frau ohne Schatten," last heard at the Met during the 1989-90 season,
returns in a new production on December 13 with Christian Thielemann on the
podium. Deborah Voigt sings the Empress, with Gabriele Schnaut as the Dyer's
Wife, Hanna Schwarz as the Nurse, Thomas Moser as the Emperor, Wolfgang Brendel
as Barak, and Eike Wilm Schulte as the Messenger of Keikobad. Herbert Wernicke
makes his debut directing the production, and also designs the sets, costumes,
and lighting.
- ARABELLA: Christoph Eschenbach*; Renée Fleming, Barbara Bonney/Sandra
Moon, Raymond Very*, Falk Struckmann, Eric Halfvarson/Harry Dworchak November
26, 30, December 3, 6, 11, 15 mat.
- IL BARBIERE DI SIVIGLIA: Yves Abel; Ruth Ann Swenson/Vesselina Kasarova*/Vivica
Genaux, Juan Diego Flórez*/Matthew Polenzani/John Osborn, Dwayne Croft/Simon
Keenlyside, John Del Carlo/Paul Plishka, Simone Alaimo/Ferruccio Furlanetto/Roberto
Scandiuzzi January 10, 14, 18, 21, 25, 30, February 2 mat., 6, 9, April 11,
15, 19, 23, 26
- LA BOHÉME: Carlo Rizzi/Marco Armiliato; Angela Gheorghiu/Patricia
Racette/Cristina Gallardo-Domas, Inva Mula*/Emily Pulley/Alexandra von der
Weth*, Roberto Alagna/Ramón Vargas, Bruno Caproni*/Alberto Gazale*
October 1, 5, 9, 13 mat., 17, 20 mat., 24, 27 mat., 29, November 2, 8, December
20, 24, 28, 31, February 7, 12, 16 mat.
- DON CARLO: Valery Gergiev/Paul Nadler; Galina Gorchakova/Veronica Villarroel,
Olga Borodina, Richard Margison/Eduardo Villa*, Dmitri Hvorostovsky/Vassily
Gerello, Samuel Ramey/Paata Burchuladze, Paata Burchuladze/Vladimir Ognovenko
December 29, January 3, 7, 12 mat., 15, 19, 22, 26
- EUGENE ONEGIN: Vladimir Jurowski; Solveig Kringelborn/Elena Evseeva, Katarina
Karnéus, Marcello Giordani/Neil Shicoff, Thomas Hampson, Robert Lloyd/Paul
Plishka September 25, 28, October 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, February 20, 23 mat.
- FALSTAFF: James Levine; Camilla Tilling*, Marina Mescheriakova, Stephanie
Blythe/Wendy White, Susanne Mentzer, Gregory Turay, Bryn Terfel/John Del Carlo,
Dwayne Croft March 21, 26, 30, April 3, 6 mat., 9, 13, 17, 20
- DIE FRAU OHNE SCHATTEN: Christian Thielemann; Deborah Voigt/Sue Patchell,
Gabriele Schnaut/Adrienne Dugger, Hanna Schwarz/Wendy White, Thomas Moser/John
Horton Murray, Wolfgang Brendel, Eike Wilm Schulte/Harry Dworchak December
13, 17, 21, 27, January 1, 5 mat., 8, 11, 17
- THE GREAT GATSBY: James Levine; Dawn Upshaw, Margaret Lattimore, Lorraine
Hunt Lieberson, Jerry Hadley, Mark Baker, Dwayne Croft, Richard Paul Fink
April 29, May 3, 7, 11 mat.
- HÄNSEL UND GRETEL: Charles Mackerras; Dawn Upshaw/Emily Pulley, Jennifer
Larmore/Jane Bunnell, Judith Forst/Judith Christin, Stephanie Blythe/Claudia
Waite, Kim Josephson/John Fanning December 19, 22, 26, 29 mat., January 2,
5
- IDOMENEO: James Levine/Scott Bergeson; Dawn Upshaw/Hei-Kyung Hong, Carol
Vaness/Alexandra Deshorties, Susan Graham/Anne Sofie von Otter, Plácido
Domingo September 29 mat., October 3, 6, 10, 13, 18, 22, 25, January 23, 26
mat., 31
- LUISA MILLER: James Levine/Joseph Colaneri; Marina Mescheriakova/Sondra
Radvanovsky/Barbara Frittoli, Denyce Graves/Wendy White, Neil Shicoff/Martin
Thompson, Nikolai Putilin/Roberto Frontali, Carlo Colombara/Hao Jiang Tian,
Phillip Ens/Paul Plishka October 26, 30, November 3, 7, 10, 13, 16, 21, March
14, 18, 23 mat.
- LULU: James Levine; Christine Schäfer, Hanna Schwarz, David Kuebler,
Clifton Forbis, to be announced, Alan Held, Franz Mazura April 12, 16, 20
mat.
- MADAMA BUTTERFLY: Marco Armiliato; Daniela Dessì/Cynthia Lawrence/Catherine
Malfitano, Fabio Armiliato/Walter Fraccaro, Kim Josephson/Juan Pons/William
Shimell November 1, 6, 10 mat., 14, 17, 24 mat., 29, December 4, 7, 10, 14,
March 23, 27, 30 mat., April 4
- NORMA: Carlo Rizzi; Jane Eaglen, Dolora Zajick/Daniela Barcellona, Richard
Margison/Antonio Barasorda, Carlo Colombara/Hao Jiang Tian October 11, 15,
19, 23, 27, 31, November 3 mat.
- DIE MEISTERSINGER VON NÜRNBERG: James Levine; Solveig Kringelborn/Karita
Mattila, Jill Grove, Johan Botha/Ben Heppner, Mathias Zachariassen*/Matthew
Polenzani, James Morris, Hans-Joachim Ketelsen, René Pape November
17 mat., 20, 24, 27, December 1, 5, 8 mat.
- A MIDSUMMER NIGHT�S DREAM: David Atherton; Sylvia McNair, Susan Chilcott*,
Maria Zifchak, David Daniels/Bejun Mehta*, Paul Groves, Nathan Gunn, Peter
Rose April 22, 25, May 2, 6, 10
- LE NOZZE DI FIGARO: Donald Runnicles; Soile Isokoski*/Melanie Diener, Andrea
Rost/Rebecca Evans, Kristine Jepson/Angelika Kirchschlager, Peter Mattei*/Michele
Pertusi, Ferruccio Furlanetto January 24, 28, February 1, 4, 9 mat., 13, 16,
19, 23, 28
- PARADE: PARADE: James Levine / LES MAMELLES DE TIRÉSIAS: James Levine;
Ainhoa Arteta/Emily Pulley, Earle Patriarco, Dwayne Croft / L�ENFANT ET LES
SORTILÈGES: James Levine; Danielle de Niese, Olga Makarina*, Ruth Ann
Swenson, Youngok Shin, John Del Carlo March 4, 8, 11, 16 mat., 22, 28
- RIGOLETTO: Marco Guidarini*/Plácido Domingo; Ruth Ann Swenson/Maureen
O�Flynn, Denyce Graves/Irina Mishura, Marcelo Álvarez/Ramón
Vargas/Frank Lopardo, Juan Pons/Carlo Guelfi/Leo Nucci, Robert Lloyd/Sergei
Koptchak February 22, 25, March 1, 5, 9 mat., 13, 16, 20, 25, 29, April 2,
6, 10, 27, May 1, 4, 9
- SLY: Marco Armiliato; Maria Guleghina/Cynthia Lawrence, Plácido Domingo,
Juan Pons, John Fanning/William Stone April 1, 5, 8, 13 mat., 18, 24, 27 mat.,
30, May 4 mat.
- TOSCA: Daniel Oren/Julius Rudel/James Levine; Catherine Malfitano/Sylvie
Valayre/Cynthia Lawrence/Georgina Lukács*/Maria Guleghina, Franco Farina/Richard
Leech/Francisco Casanova/Vincenzo La Scola/Luciano Pavarotti, James Morris/Carlo
Guelfi* January 4, 9, 12, 16, 19 mat., 29, February 2, 5, 8, 11, 15, 27, March
2, 7, May 8, 11
- LA TRAVIATA: Maurizio Benini; June Anderson, Vinson Cole/Alfredo Portilla/Frank
Lopardo, Juan Pons/Anthony Michaels-Moore/John Avey November 5, 9, 12, 15,
19, 23, 28, December 1 mat., 8, 12, 15, 18, 22 mat.
- WAR AND PEACE: Valery Gergiev/Gianandrea Noseda*; Anna Netrebko*, Ekaterina
Semenchuk*, Elena Obraztsova/Larissa Shevchenko*, Gegam Grigorian, Dmitri
Hvorostovsky, Vassily Gerello, Samuel Ramey February 14, 18, 21, 26, March
2 mat., 6, 9, 12, 15, 19
- WOZZECK: James Levine; Katarina Dalayman, Wolfgang Neumann, Graham Clark,
Falk Struckmann, Michael Devlin September 26, 29, October 2, 6 mat.
* Debut
The MET Orchestra continues its annual series at Carnegie Hall during the 2001-2002
season. Three concerts will be conducted by James Levine:
- January 27, 2002: Beethoven�s Leonore No. 3 Overture, Berg�s Seven
Early Songs with soprano Renée Fleming, and Mahler�s Symphony No. 6
- May 5, 2002: Haydn�s "Die Schöpfung" with soprano Hei-Kyung
Hong, Tenor Ian Bostridge, bass René Pape, and the Metropolitan Opera
Chorus
- May 19, 2002: Mozart�s Symphony No. 41 ("Jupiter"), the world
premiere of William Bolcom�s Symphonic Concerto, Richard Strauss� Burleske
with pianist Jean-Yves Thibaudet, and Ravel�s "Boléro"
There will also be a Pension Fund Concert on Sunday, March 24, 2002, with Angela
Gheorghiu and Roberto Alagna; Bertrand de Billy conducts the Metropolitan Opera
Orchestra and Chorus
Casting as of March 5, 2001