March 2013 presentations by the Metropolitan Opera

Scene from Francesca da Rimini by Riccardo Zandonai

http://www.metoperafamily.org//opera/francesca-di-rimini-zandonai-tickets.aspx?icamp=francesca&iloc=hpbuc

The Metropolitan Opera radio broadcasts for March include a Live in HD theater presentation of Francesca da Rimini on the 16th at 1:00 p.m.

3/2 (12pm)         Wagner:  Parsifal  Director François Girard’s timeless new vision for Wagner’s final masterpiece explores the many facets of this mystical score, while designer Michael Levine (Eugene Onegin) creates a surreal landscape. Jonas Kaufmann stars in the title role of the innocent who finds wisdom. His fellow Wagnerian luminaries include Katarina Dalayman as the mysterious Kundry, Peter Mattei as the ailing Amfortas, Evgeny Nikitin as the wicked Klingsor, and René Pape as the noble knight Gurnemanz. Daniele Gatti conducts.

3/9        Verdi: Don Carlo Nicholas Hytner’s powerful 2010 production features a strong cast for Verdi’s epic vision of the Spanish Inquisition. Ramón Vargas sings the title role, joined by Barbara Frittoli, Anna Smirnova, Dmitri Hvorostovsky, Ferruccio Furlanetto, and Eric Halfvarson. Lorin Maazel conducts.  A co-production of the Metropolitan Opera, Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, and The Norwegian National Opera and Ballet.

3/16      Zandonai:  Francesca da Rimini  Zandonai’s compelling opera, inspired by an episode from Dante’s Inferno, returns in the Met’s ravishingly beautiful production, last seen in 1986. Dramatic soprano Eva-Maria Westbroek and tenor Marcello Giordani are the doomed lovers. Marco Armiliato conducts. Live in HD.

3/23      Verdi:  La Forza del Destino  Archival performance from March 12, 1977, featuring James Levine conducting wotj Price, Elias, Domingo, MacNeil, Capecchi, and Talvela.

3/30      Verdi: La Traviata Soprano Diana Damrau tackles Verdi’s eternal heroine for the first time at the Met in Willy Decker’s inspiring production. Plácido Domingo expands his repertoire to sing the baritone role of Germont, Violetta’s tormentor. Tenor Saimir Pirgu sings Alfredo, her naïve lover. Yannick Nézet-Séguin conducts.  Original production of the Salzburger Festspiele; with thanks to De Nederlandse opera