by Paul J. Pelkonen
"...and that escalator to nowhere." Anthony Roth Costanzo climbs the stairs of destiny
in the Met's upcoming first presentation of the Philip Glass opera Akhnaten.
Photo from the Los Angeles Opera used by permission of the Met press office © 2019 The Metropolitan Opera.
And Then There Were Five
There are just five new productions, and this year is the first time in a decade that the company will not unveil one of them on New Year's Eve. (More on that below) The season leads off on Sept. 23 (earlier than usual) with a new staging of Porgy and Bess, starring Eric Owens and Angel Blue in the leading roles. Nov. 8 sees the long-overdue Met premiere of Akhnaten, the third opera by Philip Glass. This production by Phelim McDermott stars Anthony Roth Costanzo as the pharoah who tried (and failed) to bring monotheism to Ancient Egypt. It is the only "modern" offering this season.
Sex. Murder. Art.
The South African artist William Kentridge has become a critical and audience favorite with his stagings of The Nose and Lulu in the last decade. He returns with Wozzeck, Alban Berg's atonal thrill-ride through the tormented conscience of an Austrian army private. The last two shows are the Handel opera Agrippina, (Feb. 6) a wicked political satire centering around the conniving mother of Emperor Nero, and Der fliegende Holländer, Wagner's tale of a cursed ship's captain (Sir Bryn Terfel) who, try as he might cannot reach port. It sails onto the stage on March 2 with Valery Gergiev at the tiller
What are they doing New Year's Eve?
This year the Met is returning to the old (pre-Peter Gelb) gala format. They're offering those willing to pay the (doubled) ticket prices a chance to see Anna Netrebko sing single acts from three different Puccini operas. Ms. N. will sing Act I of La bohéme opposite Matthew Polenzani. She will then sing Act I of Tosca and Act II of Turandot with her husband, tenor Yusif Eyvazov. (For those of you who have wanted to hear her take on this challenging role, this is your first chance.) Music director Yannick Nézet-Séguin conducts.
If you want to see Anna Netrebko but not pay gala prices (who does?) the soprano will be singing the role of Lady Macbeth in Verdi's Scottish opera. (Placído Domingo continues his tour of Verdi baritone roles in the title part. Later performances will be sung by the sturdy Željko Lučić.) She is also slotted to reprise her Tosca, not only in the New Year's Gala but also in a run starting March 26.)
Further highlights of the generale include a chance to see both Manon (by Massenet) and Manon Lescaut (by Puccini) two very different takes on the story of a nice French girl who gets sidetracked into love and a life of debauchery. They appear at opposite ends of the schedule. Other operas of interest this season include Verdi's Simon Boccanegra (with Carlos Álvarez in the title role), the Robert Carsen staging of Der Rosenkavalier (with Sir Simon Rattle returning to the Met podium) and the return of Maria Stuarda with Diana Damrau in the title role. This season also brings back Gluck's Orfeo ed Euridice (by Mark Morris) and Berlioz' La damnation de Faust (by Robert Lepage.) Each of these tests the Met's ability to deliver spectacle to the absolute limit.
Here's the list of productions, with new stagings first, in chronological order. Live in HD broadcasts are noted where applicable.
New Productions:
Porgy and Bess (opening night, Sept. 23)(Live in HD presentation Feb. 1)
Akhnaten
(opens Nov. 8)(Live in HD presentation Nov. 23)
Wozzeck
(opens Dec. 27)(Live in HD presentation Jan. 11)
Agrippina
(opens Feb. 6)(Live in HD presentation Feb. 29)
Der fliegende Holländer
(opens March 2)(Live in HD presentation March 14)
Repertory:
Manon
(opens Sept. 24)
(Live in HD presentation Oct. 26)
Macbeth
(opens Sept. 25)
Turandot
(opens Oct. 3)
(Live in HD presentation Oct. 12)
Madama Butterfly
(opens Oct. 11)
(Live in HD presentation Nov. 9)
Orfeo ed Euridice
(opens Oct. 20)
La bohéme
(opens Oct. 25)
Le nozze di Figaro
(opens Nov. 16)
The Queen of Spades
(opens Nov. 29)
Der Rosenkavalier
(opens Dec. 13)
The Magic Flute
(short version) (opens Dec. 15)
New Year's Eve Gala with Anna Netrebko (Dec. 31
La Traviata
(opens Jan. 10)
La Damnation de Faust
(opens Jan. 25)
Cosí fan tutte
(opens Feb. 15)
La Cenerentola
(opens March 12)
Werther (opens March 16)
Tosca (opens March 26)
(Live in HD presentation April 11)
Diana Damrau in recital (March 29)
Simon Boccanegra
(opens April 10)
Maria Stuarda
(opens April 19)
(Live in HD presentation May 9)
Manon Lescaut
(opens April 28)
Káťa Kabanová
(opens May 2)
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