Turandot cancelled tonight

The Met has canceled Turandot tonight but will continue tomorrow night with The Tempest. For more information click here.

Turandot opens Tomorrow!

Maria Guleghina takes on Puccini's icy Princess in Franco Zeffirelli's lush production. Hibla Gerzmava, James Morris and Marco Berti round out the cast and Dan Ettinger conducts.

For more information on Turandot read our Preview linked here

For more information on Maria Guleghina read our Nabucco review and Nabucco Preview

Turandot Preview 2012-2013 Season

Maria Guleghina and Irene Theorin share the title role of the Icy Princess in Puccini's unfinished masterpiece.

The Production

Franco Zeffirelli's critically abhorred production returns to the Met. Ever since the Met premiered the Zeffirelli production critics have complained for his excess and for the grand scale. They have stated that the big sets take away from the action and do not let the singers shine through. Nevertheless the production has been one of the audiences favorites as the sets are rich with detail bringing the audience to the world where the action takes place. The costumes are also striking and with great actors such as this years cast, the characters are easily brought to life without any distractions. Peter Gelb has stated in various interviews that there are no plans of changing the set and I applaud him for it. Zeffirelli's Turandot is a spectacle that is is easily one of the Met's finest productions to date.

More Met pictures

The Met released more pictures today and I have a feeling there will lots to come as the season opening comes closer. The following show more L'Elisir d'Amore and more backstage of Turandot and Il Trovatore.

Takesha Meshe Kizart bows out of Turandot

Yesterday the Met announced another round of cancellations and replacements. The big winners were two operalia winners who have yet to gain international stardom. Here is what the Met Press ofice released:

Janai Brugger makes her Met debut as Liù in Turandot on October 30 and sings the role on November 2, 5, and 9. Brugger replaces Takesha Meshé Kizart, who is recovering from recent abdominal surgery.

Guanqun Yu replaces Sondra Radvanovsky as Leonora in Il Trovatore on October 17, 20, and 25. This role marks her Met debut as well.

Notable CD and DVD releases for the month of August

This month ArtHaus rereleases some classic performances and new versions of beloved operas get releases.

C Major and Kultur team up for the release of Orfeo ed Euridice with the rising star Anita Rachvelishvili in the title role. The DVD features yet another visually spectacular production La Furia del Baus from the Festival Castel del Perlada. The performances is conducted by Gordan Nikouc.