Cio-Cio-San's Aunt
Ever since it opened the 2006–07 season, Anthony Minghella’s striking production of Madama Butterfly has been a Met classic. Drawing inspiration from traditional Japanese theater, Minghella’s staging retells this heartbreaking tale with brilliant stagecraft, bold colors, and bunraku puppetry. In this Live in HD performance from the fall of 2019, Chinese soprano Hui He stars as Cio-Cio-San, the young geisha who puts her trust in a visiting American naval officer, only to later be abandoned by him. In a feat of operatic heroics, tenor Bruce Sledge appears as the callous Pinkterton, stepping into the role on short notice to replace an ailing colleague. Pier Giorgio Morandi conducts one of opera’s most tragic masterpieces, leading a cast that also includes mezzo-soprano Elizabeth DeShong as Cio-Cio-San’s loyal companion, Suzuki, and Tony Award–winning baritone Paulo Szot as the U.S. consul Sharpless.
Milliner
This outstanding performance marks an unforgettable night in Met history: Renée Fleming's farewell to her signature role as the Marschallin, and Elīna Garanča's final turn as Octavian. This new production was staged by Robert Carsen, and is conducted by Sebastian Weigle
Handmaiden
La magnífica puesta en escena de Franco Zeffirelli de la última ópera de Puccini (un cuento de hadas ambientado en una China mítica) es una de las más populares del repertorio del Metropolitan. En esta producción en vivo y en alta resolución María Guleghina se hace cargo del papel que le da título y Marcello Giordani es Calaf, el príncipe desconocido. Marina Poplavskaya y Samuel Ramey coprotagonizan la ópera y Andris Nelsons la dirige en su debut en el Metropolitan.
Georgette
This elegant romance is the least-known work of the mature Giacomo Puccini . The story concerns a kept woman who defies convention to chase a dream of romantic love with an earnest, if naïve, young man. This Met Opera production features the dynamic soprano Angela Gheorghiu and Frenchborn tenor Roberto Alagna performing the roles of Magda and Ruggero, it blooms into its rightful place in the glorious Puccini canon. La Rondine (The Swallow) was commissioned by Vienna s Carltheater in 1913. Due to the impending outbreak of World War I, premiered in 1917, at the Opéra de Monte-Carlo with Gilda Dalla Rizza and Tito Schipa. Set in a Parisian salon, it is the story of Magda, the glamorous mistress of wealthy banker Rambaldo. Her yearning for romantic love compels her into the arms of the ardent and adoring young Ruggero.
