One of America’s favorite operas returns to the Met for the first time in nearly 30 years. James Robinson’s stylish production transports audiences to Catfish Row on the Charleston waterfront, vibrant with the music, dancing, emotion, and heartbreak of its inhabitants. “If you’re going to stage Gershwin’s opera, this is how,” raved the Guardian when […]
Category Archives: LIVE OPERA
PORGY & BESS BACKSTAGE MEET & GREET
posted by Layla
After the incredible performance of Porgy & Bess, KAOP went backstage for a private Green Room with the artists. We also went upstairs to the lobby to meet privately with Eric Owens and Angel Joy Blue after their CD signing. What an incredible day! POSSE VIDEOS: POSSE PHOTOS:
MET OPERA LIVE: LA DAMNATION DE FAUST
posted by Layla
Berlioz’s compelling take on the Faust legend returns for the first time in a decade, with an ideal lineup of stars. High-flying tenors Bryan Hymel and Michael Spyres sing the doomed and besotted Faust, opposite dazzling mezzo-soprano Elīna Garanča as the forsaken Marguerite and bass Ildar Abdrazakov as the malevolent Méphistophélès. Edward Gardner conducts. Please […]
MET OPERA: IL TRITTICO (IL TABARRO & SUOR ANGELICA
posted by Layla
Jack O’Brien’s epic production of Puccini’s triple bill features first-class casting: tenor Marcelo Álvarez and soprano Amber Wagner are the illicit lovers of Il Tabarro, with baritone George Gagnidze as the spurned husband; soprano Kristine Opolais sings the shattering title role of Suor Angelica, alongside mezzo-soprano Stephanie Blythe as the Principessa; and the ageless Plácido Domingo takes […]
IL TRITTICO BACKSTAGE MEET & GREET WITH KRISTINE OPOLAIS
posted by Layla
Zipped backstage after Suor Angelica to see Kristine for a quick hello and completely lost track of time catching up! Completely stunned by her performance! So great to reconnect! Missed most of Gianni Schicchi but it was worth it. PHOTOS: VIDEOS: […]
MET OPERA: LA BOHEME BACKSTAGE MEET & GREET
posted by Layla
This performance of La Boheme left me speechless! So great to reconnect with Angel, Duncan & Ailyn after and debrief the performance, and just talk opera with my people! Dinner was amazing! Another wonderfully late opera night in NYC! PHOTOS: VIDEOS:
MET OPERA LIVE: LA BOHEME
posted by Layla
“A thrilling La Bohème … radiating warmth … luxury cast” (New York Times). Puccini’s timeless masterpiece of love and loss features two casts of young stars. Sopranos Nicole Car (in her highly anticipated Met debut) and Ailyn Pérez share the role of the ill-fated Mimì, opposite tenors Vittorio Grigolo and Michael Fabiano as the ardent […]
MET OPERA HD: SHADOWING GARY HALVORSON & MEDIA DEPARTMENT FOR HD BROADCAST OF SAMSON & DALILA
posted by Layla
The Met invited me behind the scenes of the Met Opera Live in HD Broadcast of “Samson & Dalila” to shadow Director Gary Halvorson and his media team as they prepared for and mounted the Live in HD Broadcast. I got to watch all the live rehearsals, and then watch the live feed from inside […]
MET OPERA LIVE: AIDA MEET & GREET
posted by Layla
Because of the craziness backstage after the Aida HD Performance and staff and singers getting set for the evening opera performance, backstage was crazy so we did not go backstage after the opera. We happily waited at the Stage Door for the singers to come out. It was super exciting. You definitely had to try […]
MET OPERA LIVE: AIDA
posted by Layla
Soprano Anna Netrebko and mezzo-soprano Anita Rachvelishvili reprise their incendiary partnership as Aida and Amneris—a highlight of the 2018–19 season—with tenor Piotr Beczała completing the greatest love triangle in all of opera as Radamès. Yannick Nézet-Séguin takes the podium for his first Opening Night performance as Met Music Director, leading director Michael Mayer’s grand new […]
MET OPERA LIVE: AIDA BRUNCH AT THE GRAND TIER
posted by Layla
Perfect way to start the day with my girlies and adult friends at The Grand Tier before Aida!!! POSSE VIDEOS: POSSE PHOTOS:
MET OPERA: SAMSON & DALILA BACKSTAGE MEET & GREET
posted by Layla
I have waited 10 years to meet Roberto Alagna! Meeting him finally did not disappoint. He is a true professional and beautifully kind person. He had about 30 people waiting outside his dressing room. He greeted, took pictures with, and signed autographs with true joy and an effervescent demeanor. After such a tough week with […]
MET OPERA LIVE: SAMSON & DALILA
posted by Layla
When mezzo-soprano Elīna Garanča and tenor Roberto Alagna joined forces for a new production of Carmen at the Met, the results were electrifying. Now this star duo reunites for another sensual French opera when they open the season in the title roles of Saint-Saëns’s biblical epic Samson et Dalila. Darko Tresnjak, who won a Tony Award for Best […]
BACKSTAGE MEET & GREET: LUISA MILLER
posted by Layla
OMG IS ALL THAT WE CAN SAY!!! Piotr Bezcala, Placido Domingo & Family, and Sonya Yoncheva!!! This was a dream come true for all of KAOP and parents! ❤️ POSSE PHOTOS: POSSE VIDEOS:
MET OPERA LIVE: LUISA MILLER
posted by Layla
Plácido Domingo adds yet another role to his legendary Met career in this rarely performed Verdi gem, a heart-wrenching tragedy of fatherly love. Sonya Yoncheva sings the title role opposite Piotr Beczała in the first Met performances of the opera in more than ten years. Bertrand de Billy conducts. TEXT: Courtesy of http://www.metopera.org CURTAIN CALL: […]
MET OPERA LIVE: SEMIRAMIDE
posted by Layla
A great night at The Metropolitan Opera with friends Ann, Richard, and my mom! We enjoyed a glorious and tasty dinner at The Grand Tier and Semiramide! Thank you so much Ann for hosting us, and thank you Etro for dressing me for this incredible night!
BOSTON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA: ANDRIS NELSONS CONDUCTS MOZART AND SHOSTAKOVICH FEATURING SOPRANO KRISTINE OPOLAIS
posted by Layla
Andris Nelsons, conductor Kristine Opolais, soprano Alexander Tsymbalyuk, bass MOZART Serenade No. 10 in B-flat for winds, K.361, Gran Partita (40 min) SHOSTAKOVICH Symphony No. 14* (48 min) *Sung in Russian with English supertitles The BSO presents one of Shostakovich’s most unusual symphonies, No. 14, which continues the BSO’s complete cycle of Shostakovich symphonies being recorded for future […]
MET OPERA: LE NOZZE DI FIGARO BACKSTAGE MEET & GREET
posted by Layla
The trip to the Green Room this trip was outrageous! We got to meet the entire cast- and they were so gracious. I could not believe Ildar and Isabelle remembered me! Ildar said “Everyone knows you.” Nadine shouted “OMG I know you from Instagram.’ Ailyn was so nice! I was able to have brief but […]
MET OPERA: LE NOZZE DI FIGARO
posted by Layla
An exceptional ensemble of performers—including Ailyn Pérez, Nadine Sierra, Isabel Leonard, Luca Pisaroni, Mariusz Kwiecien, and Ildar Abdrazakov—share the stage in Mozart’s comic yet profound look at human nature and one crazy day in a wealthy Spanish household. Acclaimed Mozartean maestro Harry Bicket conducts Richard Eyre’s high-spirited production. TEXT: Courtesy of http://www.metopera.org VIDEOS: POSSE PHOTOS:
MET OPERA: THE GRAND TIER GROUP DINNER
posted by Layla
We started our evening at the opera having dinner for 20 at The Grand Tier Restaurant! The food was incredible and the service was excellent. As usual, the Met Opera team made us feel wonderfully welcome and special coming from coast to coast to see Le Nozze di Figaro! Our group of adults and teens […]
MET OPERA: TOSCA BACKSTAGE MEET & GREET
posted by Layla
I went backstage after the performance to congratulate Vittorio on an epic performance of Cavaradossi! When I saw him- his voice was a whisper- it was finished from giving all to the performance. He dashed away to take care of his voice and head to bed. Truly, an incredible night! POSSE PHOTOS:
MET OPERA LIVE: TOSCA
posted by Layla
Puccini’s melodrama about a volatile diva, a sadistic police chief, and an idealistic artist has offended and thrilled audiences for more than a century. Critics, for their part, have often had problems with Tosca’s rather grungy subject matter, the directness and intensity of its score, and the crowd-pleasing dramatic opportunities it provides for its lead […]
LA OPERA: BACKSTAGE MEET & GREET
posted by Layla
OMG! My first experience at the LA Opera was mindblowing!! Not only did I thoroughly enjoy the performance of Nabucco with Placido and Liudmyla – I also was honored to meet John Nuckols EVP of the LA Opera, Christopher Koelsch – President and CEO of the LA Opera, and James Conlon – Richard Seaver Musical […]
LA OPERA: NABUCCO
posted by Layla
Final performance Sunday, November 19! As an aging king descends into madness, his bloodthirsty daughter begins a reign of terror, leaving a defenseless populace to battle for freedom from their oppressors. A monumental opera that made Verdi a national hero, Nabucco boasts a bold score that goes straight to the heart, highlighted by the immortal […]
MET OPERA: LES CONTES D’HOFFMANN BACKSTAGE MEET & GREET
posted by Layla
Les Contes D’Hoffmann LIVE was even better than I thought it would be. Vittorio Grigolo as Hoffmann and Erin Morley as Olympia were outstanding! It was definitely a night to remember. POSSE PHOTOS:
THE MET: LES CONTES D’HOFFMANN
posted by Layla
Vittorio Grigolo sings the title role of the tortured poet in Offenbach’s glittering treatment of the stories of E.T.A. Hoffmann. Bartlett Sher’s production provides a vibrant backdrop for this operatic journey through the hero’s many love affairs. Johannes Debus conducts. TEXT: Courtesy of http://www.metopera.org PHOTOS:
MET OPERA: LA BOHEME BACKSTAGE MEET & GREET
posted by Layla
It was great seeing Angel make her debut at The Metropolitan Opera House as Mimi- she was incredible and will definitely have a long and wonderful career. It was incredible to go to dinner with the cast and hang out and talk opera with people who love it as much as I do. PHOTOS: […]
THE MET: LA BOHEME
posted by Layla
The world’s most popular opera returns in Franco Zeffirelli’s classic production, with a series of exciting casts. Angel Blue in the role of the fragile Mimì, with Dmytro Popov as the poet Rodolfo. Alexander Soddy and Marco Armiliato share conducting duties. TEXT: Courtesy of http://www.metopera.org PHOTOS:
TANGLEWOOD: KRISTINE OPOLAIS JOINS ANDRIS NELSONS FOR AN EXCITING EVENING OF OPERA & SONG
posted by Layla
On Saturday, August 26, soprano Kristine Opolais, bass-baritone Sir Bryn Terfel and the Tanglewood Festival Chorus join Music Director Andris Nelsons and the Boston Symphony Orchestra for an evening of opera and song.Bass-baritone Sir Bryn Terfel replaces baritone Dmitri Hvorostovsky in the Boston Symphony Orchestra’s Saturday, August 26, opera gala program at Tanglewood. PHOTOS & VIDEOS: […]
MET OPERA VISIT
posted by Layla
Made my once-a-trip pilgrimage to The Met Opera just to breathe the air, touch the building, see some friends, and drop off Met Opera Guild Membership checks from members of my Kids Opera & Art Posse. It was great seeing Jerry and Cory, and catching up on all things opera. POSSE PHOTOS: […]
MET OPERA: DON GIOVANNI
posted by Layla
Three charismatic singers, Simon Keenlyside, Ildar Abdrazakov, and Mariusz Kwiecien, share the role of the title hero, who goes to hell in a dazzling coup de théâtre. The ensemble of great Mozartean singers includes Angela Meade, Marina Rebeka, Isabel Leonard, Matthew Polenzani, Erwin Schrott, and Paul Appleby. Fabio Luisi and Plácido Domingo conduct. POSSE PHOTOS:
MET OPERA 50TH ANNIVERSARY GALA PERFORMANCE
posted by Layla
50 Years at Lincoln Center A Gala Celebration SUNDAY, MAY 7, 2017 On September 16, 1966, the Metropolitan Opera opened its doors for the first time in a new home at Lincoln Center, with the world premiere of Samuel Barber’s Antony and Cleopatra, starring Leontyne Price and Justino Díaz. The New York Times declared the opening of the […]
MET OPERA LIVE: DER ROSENKAVALIER
posted by Layla
The dream cast of Renée Fleming as the Marschallin and Elīna Garanča as Octavian star in Strauss’s grandest opera. In his new production, Robert Carsen, the director behind the Met’s recent Falstaff, places the action at the end of the Habsburg Empire, underscoring the opera’s subtext of class and conflict against a rich backdrop of gilt […]
ATLANTA OPERA: TURANDOT
posted by Layla
Puccini’s epic tale centers around the Princess Turandot, who decapitates each suitor who fails to answer her riddles. Calaf falls in love with the ruthless Princess and heroically wins her ghastly game. Shockingly, Calaf proposes his own riddle to the Princess and puts his love and life in the hands of Turandot. Italian tenor Gianluca Terranova, […]
ATLANTA OPERA: DON PASQUALE
posted by Layla
In this modern production from director Chuck Hudson set in the golden era of Hollywood, Don Pasquale is an aging silent film star at the sunset of his career. Our protagonist sets off to find a wife and heir to his fortune. He gets hitched to the devious Norina, a widowed gold digger who conspires with Ernesto, […]
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