Summer Operas June 19, 2013

Carmen
Approximate running time 3 hrs. 13 min.
The Met’s hit production of Bizet’s Carmen stars Anita Rachvelishvili, who made a sensational Met debut in the title role in 2010. “With her smoldering, earthy sexuality, she is ideal for the role” of the sultry gypsy (New York Times). In the final performance, José Cura sings the role of Don José, the soldier whose doomed love for Carmen destroys them both. Ekaterina Scherbachenko is the loyal Micaëla and Dwayne Croft sings the swaggering bullfighter Escamillo. Michele Mariotti conducts.
Sung in French with Met Titles in English
Date: June 19
Time: 7:00 p.m.

Il Trovatore
Approximate running time 2 hrs. 46 min.
Il Trovatore returns to the Met in a revival the New York Times calls "rousing, satisfying, truly fun." David McVicar’s vivid production keeps the action moving in Verdi’s intense melodrama, which includes some of the composer’s most memorable music. Patricia Racette and Angela Meade share the role of Leonora, Marco Berti sings Manrico and Alexey Markov is the Count, with star mezzo Stephanie Blythe as the deadly gypsy Azucena.
A co-production of the Metropolitan Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago, and the San Francisco Opera Association
Sung in Italian with Met Titles in English
Date: June 26
Time: 7:00 p.m.

Armida
Approximate running time 3 hrs. 30 min.
Renée Fleming revisits Rossini’s powerful but conflicted sorceress in the Met’s new production directed by Tony Award® winner Mary Zimmerman. Lawrence Brownlee (pictured above) is Rinaldo, the object of Armida’s love and revenge.
Sung in Italian with Met Titles in English
Date: July 10
Time: 7:00 p.m.

La Traviata
Approximate running time 2 hrs. 35 min.
Natalie Dessay will put on the red dress in Willy Decker’s stunning production, in her first Violetta at the Met. Matthew Polenzani sings Alfredo, Dmitri Hvorostovsky is Germont, and Principal Conductor Fabio Luisi is on the podium
Sung in Italian with Met Titles in English
Date: July 17
Time: 7:00 p.m.

Turnadot
Approximate running time 3 hrs. 3 min.
"This is a staging that puts the 'grand' back into grand opera," says the Associated Press. Franco Zeffirelli’s breathtaking production features Maria Guleghina and Iréne Theorin in the title role of the fatally beautiful Chinese princess. Sharing the role of Calàf, Marco Berti and Marcello Giordani sing the famous “Nessun dorma,” just one of the treasures of Puccini’s score.
Sung in Itlaian with Met Titles in English
Date: July 24
Time: 7:00 p.m.

Il Barbiere Di Siviglia
Approximate running time 3 hrs. 5 min.
Peter Mattei and Rodion Pogossov share the title role of the barber in Bartlett Sher's popular production, which propels the comic action right into the audience. Isabel Leonard sings her first Met Rosina, sharing the role with Diana Damrau, and Javier Camarena makes his Met debut as the Count.
Sung in Italian with Met Titles in English
Date: July 31
Time: 7:00 p.m.