Renée Fleming Leads Met's Armida 2/18

Renée Fleming will reprise her tour-de-force portrayal of the title character in Rossini's virtuosic rarity Armida for a run of performances beginning February 18. The opera will be seen in Mary Zimmerman's stylized production, created for Armida's Met premiere last season. Rising tenor Lawrence Brownlee, who won considerable plaudits for his sweet-voiced interpretation of Armida's lover Rinaldo last season, will reprise his role this year, as will fellow tenors Barry Banks (Carlo), John Osborn (Goffredo), Kobie van Resburg (Ubaldo), and Yeghishe Manucharyan (Eustazio). Antonino Siragusa makes his Met role debut as the crusader Gernando. Riccardo Frizza, who led the Met premiere of the work, returns to conduct this revival.

The title role of Armida is one of the most challenging parts in the soprano repertory, requiring vocal agility, dramatic intensity, a wide range, and considerable stamina. The opera languished in obscurity for a century after its premiere, until it was resurrected as a diva showcase for Maria Callas in a 1952 production in Florence. Armida is rarely performed, in part, because of casting difficulties: in addition to the demanding soprano title role, the opera requires six tenors who can perform Rossini's music with bel canto finesse. Among the many musical pleasures of Rossini's score are Armida's thrilling Act II aria "D'amore al dolce impero"; the Act III tenor trio, "Unìtevi a gara"; and the high-octane finale, in which Armida struggles between her love for Rinaldo and her desire for revenge.

Mary Zimmerman's production features sets and costumes by Richard Hudson and lighting by Brian MacDevitt. Choreography, including a ballet in Act II, is by ten-time Tony Award nominee Graciela Daniele.

Live Broadcasts Around the World
Armida will be experienced by millions of people around the world this season on the radio and on the internet, through distribution platforms the Met has established with various media partners.
The February 18 opening performance will be broadcast live on Metropolitan Opera Radio on SIRIUS channel 78 and XM channel 79, as will the March 1 and 5 performances.
The March 1 performance will also be available via internet streaming at the Met's web site www.metopera.org. The March 5 matinee will be broadcast live over the Toll Brothers-Metropolitan Opera International Radio Network.

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