BWW Review: If It's Monday, It Must Be Puccini - Opolais is a Ravishing MADAMA BUTTERFLY at the Met
by Richard Sasanow - Mar 25, 2016
MADAMA BUTTERFLY was never my favorite Puccini until the current production conceived by Anthony Minghella. Before, Butterfly always seemed too submissive, Pinkerton too brutish and their child, well, too cute. Now—particularly with the current cast, headed by the magnificent Kristine Opolais as the young geisha and the dashing Roberto Alagna as the clueless Pinkerton, her American husband--seemed to put my past reservations to rest. The result was a magnificent performance, from beginning to end.
Met Opera Reports a Surplus of $1 Million From $22 Million Deficit
by Christina Mancuso - Sep 25, 2015
After its preliminary closing of the books for Fiscal Year 2015 (the 2014-15 season), the Metropolitan Opera reports that it has balanced its budget and ended the season with a surplus of $1 million. The results are a significant turnaround from the company's previous fiscal year, which ended with a budget shortfall of $22 million. The Met's financial success was achieved through budget cuts—including the implementation of historic new union agreements and a program of cross-departmental spending reductions—as well as increased contributions from donors. Final audited financial results for the season will be available in January.
BWW Interview: See Giovanna Run - A Chat with ANNA BOLENA's Mezzo Jamie Barton at the Met
by Richard Sasanow - Sep 25, 2015
With the season's first performance of Donizetti's ANNA BOLENA--that's Henry VIII's Anne Boleyn to all you Masterpiece Theatre fans--at the Met, the big news is that it's soprano Sondra Radvanovsky's first part of the Tudor Trilogy, with MARIA STUARDA and ROBERTO DEVEREUX to come later in the season. Alongside her, as Jane (here, Giovanna) Seymour, Boleyn's successor as consort to Henry, is mezzo Jamie Barton, this year's winner of the Richard Tucker Award, a past winner of the Met Council Auditions (and many other major awards) and a sensation when she sang her first big role at the Met two years ago, Adalgisa in Bellini's NORMA.
BWW Reviews: BALLO with Radvanovsky, Beczala and Markov Ends Met Season with a Bang
by Richard Sasanow - May 20, 2015
The Met was running on all cylinders for the last performance of the season, with Verdi's UN BALLO IN MASCHERA in an energized version of the production that premiered in 2012. The trio of principals--soprano Sondra Radvanovsky as Amelia, tenor Piotr Beczala as Gustavo and baritone Alexey Markov as Anckarstrom--gave ringing, heart-felt performances in a concept from David Alden that previously seemed half-baked. Now, the singing and acting were so good that one could forget the conceit's shortcomings.
BWW Reviews: Never Met a Rivertown Show I Didn't Like â€" THE WILL ROGERS FOLLIES
by Heidi Scheuermann - Feb 11, 2015
Will Rogers, 'Oklahoma's Favorite Son,' was one of those do-it-all celebrities. Cowboy; trick roper; vaudeville performer; comedian; newspaper columnist; film actor; politician; husband to Betty Blake; and father to Bill, Mary, James, and Fred. The man did it all. Because Will's vaudeville trick rope act led him to headline the Ziegfeld Follies, THE WILL ROGERS FOLLIES tells his life story as if it were being told through one of Mr. Ziegfeld's productions. It's quite clever. It's also the rootinest, tootinest, knee-slapping, wholesome humored, and down right All-American show I've ever seen. And I loved it.
BWW Reviews: Netrebko and Beczala A Potent Duo in IOLANTA Debut at the Met
by Richard Sasanow - Feb 4, 2015
I don't know when the next time the Met is planning to bring back Tchaikovsky's final opera, IOLANTA (libretto by his brother Modest) into its repertory, but they should, and quickly. And if you have the opportunity, run to see it as fast as you can. It's not often that the Met puts on a opera and production so compelling and glorious to watch and hear.
BWW Reviews: HOFFMANN is a Messy, but Enjoyable, Tale at the Met
by Richard Sasanow - Jan 26, 2015
Is there another staple of major opera houses that's as big a mess as LES CONTES D'HOFFMAN by Jacques Offenbach? If there is, I can't think of it--but it doesn't keep it from being wildly enjoyable in the right hands. The Met's current production is entertaining, in spite of itself.
Windsync to Perform A POCKET NUTCRACKER at Met, 12/14
by Matt Smith - Nov 23, 2014
(New York, November 21, 2014) — This holiday season, the acclaimed wind quintet, WindSync, known for adventurous programs, fiery performances, and unique stage presence, will premiere an interactive and unforgettable version of The Nutcracker for children and adults alike.
Lee Roy Reams to Emcee TACT's CATCH A RISING STAR Benefit at the Met Room Next Month
by BWW News Desk - Nov 21, 2014
TACT/The Actors Company Theatre will hold its Winter Benefit on Monday, December 1st at The Metropolitan Room (34 West 22nd Street). The festive evening entitled 'Catch A Rising Star' will be emceed by legendary Broadway song and dance man Lee Roy Reams and will feature musical performances by eight young up-and-coming Broadway talents. The evening will kick off at 6:30 p.m. with a cocktail reception, followed by the show at 7:00 p.m.
WindSync to Perform A POCKET NUTCRACKER at Met Museum, 12/14
by Tyler Peterson - Nov 21, 2014
This holiday season, the acclaimed wind quintet, WindSync, known for adventurous programs, fiery performances, and unique stage presence, will premiere an interactive and unforgettable version of The Nutcracker for children and adults alike.?
BWW Reviews: RENE PAPE Recital at the Met a Matter of Life and Death
by Richard Sasanow - Oct 6, 2014
The wonderful German singer Rene Pape made history when he made his recital debut at the Met last week—the first bass to perform a solo program at the house. He showed off his dexterity with languages, singing in German, Russian and English, and his ability to move from art songs to musical comedy, sensitively accompanied by pianist Camillo Radicke.
BROADWAY SHOWSTOPPER DIVOS: A SWELL PARTY Comes to the Met Room Tonight
by BWW News Desk - Sep 15, 2014
Tonight, September 15 at 7:00 PM, Randie Levine-Miller will present and host Broadway Showstopper Divos --'A Swell Party' at the Metropolitan Room, 34 West 22nd Street. The evening's theme is 'The Broadway Songbook' -- starring some of the theater's most talented performers:
THE LION KING's Chondra Profit to Present A JAZZED UP WOMAN at the Met Room, 7/13
by BWW News Desk - Jul 9, 2014
Chondra Profit makes her Metropolitan Room debut, July 13, 2014 with A JAZZED UP WOMAN. Currently appearing as Sarabi in Disney's The Lion King on Broadway, Chondra Profit presents an evening of Jazz music including standards and not-so-standard, 'jazzed up' versions of top 40 hits ranging from My Funny Valentine to Beyonce's Love on Top.