Metropolitan Opera's 2018 Summer Recital Series Offers Six Free Concerts Featuring Rising Opera Stars

The 2018 Metropolitan Opera Summer Recital Series will once again bring free outdoor recitals featuring rising young stars of the opera world to New Yorkers in all five boroughs. The series, now in its tenth year, is presented in collaboration with City Parks Foundation's SummerStage Festival and will feature six free concerts between June 11 and June 29. The first two recitals, on June 11 at 8 p.m. at Central Park SummerStage and June 13 at 7 p.m. at Brooklyn Bridge Park, will feature soprano Latonia Moore, who starred as the title role in Verdi's Aida this past season, tenor Mario Chang, who is currently singing as Arturo in Donizetti's Lucia di Lammermoor, and baritone Joshua Hopkins, who will star as Mercutio in the Met's upcoming production of Gounod's Roméo et Juliette, joined by pianist Dan Saunders.

Four additional recitals, again with the accompaniment of Saunders, will feature soprano Gabriella Reyes de Ramírez, tenor Gerard Schneider, and baritone Adrian Timpau. These recitals will take place on: Thursday, June 21 at 7 p.m. in Cloves Lakes Park (Staten Island); Saturday, June 23 at 3 p.m. in Williamsbridge Oval (Bronx); Wednesday, June 27 at 7:00 p.m. in Jackie Robinson Park (Manhattan); and Friday, June 29 at 7 p.m. in Socrates Sculpture Park (Queens).

No tickets are required for any of the performances.

The Met's Summer Recital Series will feature aria and duets from a variety of operas. There are no rain dates for any of the park recitals.

The Met's Summer Recital Series is supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, in partnership with the City Council, and in collaboration with the Department of Parks and Recreation. Major funding has also been provided by The Elizabeth B. McGraw Foundation, in honor of Mrs. McGraw.

Photo: American soprano, Latonia Moore, will have the lead role in the Metropolitan Opera's upcoming production of 'Aida', 11 July 2012
Photo by Dallas Kilponen