Have a napkin, have a chopstick, have a chair
From a musical perspective, the evening came together admirably. As a work of theater, though, it was as stale as last week’s takeout.
Metropolitan Opera
The mothership and mecca of opera in America—and home base for Parterre Box.
Ernani
Thomas Schippers conducts Carlo Bergonzi, Leontyne Price, Cornell MacNeil, and Giorgio Tozzi in a broadcast from 1962
Turandot
Metropolitan Opera debuts for Oksana Lyniv and Elena Pankratova in a live broadcast from New York also featuring Aleksandra Kurzak, SeokJeongBaek, and Vitalij Kowaljow
Destiny’s child
While you may need to bring along your Dramamine, the Met’s new production of La forza del destino, does—eventually—spin fast enough to achieve escape velocity.
Farà di capello al bravo uffizial
In anticipation of a full review, cher public is invited to weigh in on the lamentable perruque situation in this season’s new forza
La forza del destino
Yannick Nézet-Séguin conducts the opening night of a new production with Lise Davidsen, Brian Jadge, Judit Kutasi, Igor Golovatenko, Patrick Carfizzi, and Soloman Howard
Mozart and Beethoven in Concert at the Met
Yannick Nézet-Séguin conducts a 2023 performance of Mozart’s Requiem with Golda Schultz, Emily D’Angelo, Dmytro Popov, Vladyslav Buialskyi and a 2022 performance of the finale of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 with Elza van den Heever, Jamie Barton, Piotr Beczala, and Ryan Speedo Green
Metropolitan Opera 2024-25
The Metropolitan Opera reveals its upcoming season
Un ballo in maschera
A broadcast from fall 2023 featuring Charles Castronovo, Angela Meade, Quinn Kelsey, Liv Redpath, and Olesya Petrova conducted by Carlo Rizzi
Valentines from the Met: Great Love Duets
A valentine from New York
X: The Life and Times of Malcolm X
Kazem Abdullah conducts Will Liverman, Leah Hawkins, Raehann Bryce-Davis, Michael Sumuel, and Victor Ryan Robertson in a broadcast recorded this fall from New York
Carmen
Daniele Rustioni conducts Angel Blue, Aigul Akhmetshina, Piotr Beczala, and Kyle Ketelsen in a broadcast from the Met
Madama Butterfly
Xian Zhang conducts Aleksandra Kurzak, Eve Gigliotti, Matthew Polenzani, and Davide Luciano live from New York
Dead Man Walking
Yannick Nézet-Seguin conducts Ryan McKinny, Joyce DiDonato, Latonia Moore, and Susan Graham in a broadcast from October 21, 2023
Carmen
Daniele Rustioni conducts Angel Blue, Aigul Akhmetshina, Piotr Beczala, and Kyle Ketelsen in a live broadcast from New York
Polish rider
“The mystery of her voice gripped my soul,” Sharpless tells Pinkerton at the beginning of Puccini’s Madama Butterfly. One could say the same thing of Aleksandra Kurzak’s remarkable portrayal of the title role, the main reason to catch the Met’s latest revival.
La bohème
A broadcast from New York featuring Elena Stikhina, Stephen Costello, Kristina Mkhitaryan, Adam Plachetka, and Krzysztof Baczyk conducted by Marco Armiliato
Madama Butterfly
Xian Zhang conducts Aleksandra Kurzak, Elizabeth DeShong, Matthew Polenzani, and Davide Luciano live from New York
Nabucco
Daniele Callegari conducts Liudmyla Monastyrska, Maria Barakova, SeokJong Baek, George Gagnidze, Dmitry Belosselskiy in a broadcast from New York.
Carmen
Daniele Rustioni conducts Angel Blue, Aigul Akhmetshina, Rafael Davila, and Kyle Ketelsen in the first broadcast of the Met’s new production
Star vehicles
This Carmen, in other words, was somewhat less radical than its initial image suggested.
Don José…le connaissez-vous ?
“Rafael Davila will sing the role of Don José in Bizet’s Carmen in tonight’s performance, replacing Piotr Beczala, who has withdrawn due to illness.”
Le Nozze di Figaro
A historic performance from April 7, 1956 in celebration of the centenaries of Cesare Siepi and Victoria de los Angeles featuring Nadine Conner, Mildred Miller, and conductor Max Rudolf
Nabucco
Daniele Callegari yet again conducts Liudmyla Monastyrska, Maria Barakova, SeokJong Baek, George Gagnidze, Dmitry Belosselskiy in a broadcast from New York.
I’ll take the fall
The days are getting shorter, but you can keep the prattle going this fall’s Talk of the Town! You will, you can, you must join in the discussion about: Great mezzo soprano performances (October),
Gained in translation (November), Teleport me back to… (December).
Win a Free Ticket to Opening Night at the Met!
Quinn Kelsey and Lise Davidsen star in the Met's new Macbeth. We're giving away one ticket, so screw your courage to the sticking place and enter now!
