Future Seasons

Over the past few days a number of announcements have been made regarding future seasons at the Met and all over the world. Here is a an overview.

Christine Goerke will sing Brundhilde at the Met in 2018-19. The announcement was made in the New York Times and although it is exciting news it would have been better to stage this earlier now that the soprano is her prime.

Roberto Alagna will sing Otello and Cyrano de Bergerac. Alagna announced that he is doing Otello next summer in Europe and while that does not surprise anyone, is he really up for the challenge of the daunting role. Most importantly does he have the voice because he has the acting skills. He also announced that he will do Cyrano at the Met with Patricia Racette.


Anna Netrebko has recently announced that she is singing Il Trovatore at the Mariinsky theater in December and at the Met in 2015 with Yonghoon Lee.

Tosca in HD This Weekend

This weekend Tosca will  be screened Live in HD for the second time. The production by Luc Bondy is one of the most controversial productions at the Met as it premiered to a number of boos in 2009 at the Opening Night of the season. The Met has presented the production four straight seasons and has failed to sell out the house.  

This season Patricia Racette will bring her acclaimed portrait of the diva. However Racette's voice has declined in the past years since she first sang it in 2010. The voice struggles to get to the top of the range and she sounds uncomfortable. Roberto Alagna sings Cavaradossi and critics have praised him for his ardor. However Alagna struggles with most of the role except his arias and has a hollow sound. As Scarpia George Gagnidze brings his chaotic voice to the role which he sang at the premiere of the production. His Scarpia is one dimensional and he has failed to add any layers to the role.  

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With all these elements it seems this HD will be one of the biggest disappointments of the season. Additionally it seems like it will be a waste of time considering such operas as Di Frau Ohne Schatten, Arabella, Die Fledermaus, and Norma were ignored. 

As Opera fans which HD would you guys have liked to see instead of Tosca? Who is Going to see this Work?

Aleksandra Kurzak Cancels Rigoletto

This felt inevitable after Elina Garanca cancelled Werther.  The Met press office: “Two rising young sopranos will make their Met debuts earlier than originally scheduled when they share the role of Gilda in Verdi’sRigoletto later this fall, replacing Aleksandra Kurzak, who has withdrawn due to pregnancy. Russian soprano Irina Lungu will sing the role on November 11, 15, and 18, and Bulgarian soprano Sonya Yoncheva will sing the role on November 21, 27, 30, December 4, and at the December 7 matinee. Kurzak is expecting a baby this winter with her partner, tenor Roberto Alagna.”  

Gheorghiu-Alagna to Divorce

Diva Angela Gheorghiu has announced her divorce with Roberto Alagna. The couple had announced the same thing back in 2009 when they were about to premiere Carmen at the Met in Richard Eyre's new production. However they were simply rumors. Now Ms. Gheorghiu has stated that she and Robert have decided on friendly terms to separate. She stated that she wants a fresh start to 2013. For more click here to read the full story




Angela Gheorghiu is currently planning her 2013 calendar and is slated to sing in July at the Royal Opera House. Robert Alagna just came off an acclaimed run of Aida at the Metropolitan Opera and will be singing Gustavo in Un Ballo in Maschera a the Vienna State Opera in January.