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La Damnation de... (Nov. 22, 2008)

La Damnation de Faust Part IV: Romance de Marguerite - D'amour l'ardente flamme
(Nov. 22, 2008)

Composer: Hector Berlioz
Librettist: Almire Gandonnière and Hector Berlioz

Levine; Graham, Giordani, Relyea

Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, Chorus and Ballet

Approximate running time: 10 min. 23 sec.

Conducted by James Levine, Robert Lepage’s stunning production—with its brilliant marriage of art and technology—thrilled HD audiences around the world. In Berlioz’s rarely performed vision of the immortal Faust legend, Marcello Giordani is a fiery title hero whose impulsive bargain with Méphistophélès (a commanding John Relyea) proves fatal. Susan Graham is a lovely and tragic Marguerite, the woman who gives everything to the man she loves.
Doctor Atomic (Nov. 8, 2008)

Doctor Atomic Act I: Batter my heart three person'd God
(Nov. 8, 2008)

Composer: John Adams
Librettist: Peter Sellars

Gilbert; Finley, Cooke, Fink, Glenn

Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and Chorus

Approximate running time: 6 min. 53 sec.

John Adams’s mesmerizing score, in the powerful production of Penny Woolcock, tells the story of one of the pivotal moments in human history—the creation of the atomic bomb. Conducted by Alan Gilbert in his Met debut, this gripping opera presents the human face of the scientists, military men, and others who were involved in the project, as they wrestled with the implications of their work. Baritone Gerald Finley gives a powerful star turn in the title role as the brilliant J. Robert Oppenheimer.
Don Pasquale (Jan. 11, 1979)

Don Pasquale Act I: E il dottor non si vede! … Pronta io son
(Jan. 11, 1979)

Composer: Gaetano Donizetti
Librettist: Giovanni Ruffini and Gaetano Donizetti

Rescigno; Sills, Kraus, Hagegård, Castel, Bacquier

Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and Chorus

Approximate running time: 12 min. 11 sec.

This John Dexter production, designed by Desmond Heeley, was a parting gift to the great American soprano Beverly Sills, who bid farewell to the Met as Norina, the smart young widow at the center of Donizetti’s comedy. The sensational Alfredo Kraus sings her beloved Ernesto. Håkan Hagegård, in his Met debut role and season, is Dr. Malatesta, the man who helps the young couple trick the crusty old bachelor of the title (Gabriel Bacquier at his comical best) into a fake marriage. This being a Donizetti comedy, it all turns out perfectly well at the end—and getting there is pure operatic fun.

The Audition (Apr. 1, 2007)

The Audition
(Apr. 1, 2007)

Composer: Various
Librettist: Various

Marco Armiliato
Metropolitan Opera Orchestra

Approximate running time: 1 hrs. 47 min.

The Audition, directed by award-winning filmmaker Susan Froemke, looks at the intense pressures young opera singers face as they struggle to succeed in one of the most difficult professions in the performing arts. The feature-length documentary takes you behind the scenes at the Metropolitan Opera’s National Council Auditions, where each year thousands of hopefuls compete for a cash prize, the chance to sing on the Met stage—and the opportunity to launch a major operatic career.
Hansel and Gret... (Jan. 1, 2008)

Hansel and Gretel
(Jan. 1, 2008)

Composer: Engelbert Humperdinck
Librettist: Adelheid Wette

Jurowski; Coote, Schäfer, Plowright, Held, Langridge

Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and Chorus

Approximate running time: 2 hrs. 0 min.

This deliciously dark take on the beloved Brothers Grimm fairy tale, appealing to audiences of all ages, was part of the Met’s popular English-language holiday series. Alice Coote and Christine Schäfer star as the famous siblings lost in the woods, who battle the ravenous Witch—a zany portrayal by tenor Philip Langridge—while the Met orchestra, under the baton of Vladimir Jurowski, glories in the rich, folk-inspired score.
Opening Night G... (Sep. 22, 2008)

Opening Night Gala feat. Renée Fleming
(Sep. 22, 2008)

Composer: Giuseppe Verdi, Jules Massenet, Richard Strauss
Librettist: Francesco Maria Piave, Henri Meilhac, Philippe Gille and Clemens Krauss

Levine, Armiliato, Summers; Fleming, Vargas, Hampson

Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, Chorus and Ballet

Approximate running time: 2 hrs. 22 min.

There are few occasions to match the excitement and glamour and of an Opening Night at the Met. This spectacular gala showcased the extraordinary soprano Renée Fleming in three different, equally dazzling roles, each costumed by a different designer. The famous productions by Franco Zeffirelli (Verdi’s La Traviata, Act II, conducted by James Levine), Jean-Pierre Ponnelle (Massenet’s Manon, Act III), and John Cox (Strauss’s Capriccio, final scene) were fully staged. With Ramón Vargas, Thomas Hampson, Dwayne Croft, and Robert Lloyd.
Roméo et Juliet... (Dec. 15, 2007)

Roméo et Juliette
(Dec. 15, 2007)

Composer: Charles Gounod
Librettist: Jules Barbier and Michel Carré

Domingo; Netrebko, Alagna, Gunn, Lloyd

Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and Chorus

Approximate running time: 2 hrs. 51 min.

The world’s most famous love story comes to operatic life with superstars Anna Netrebko and Roberto Alagna playing the star-crossed young couple. The abandon and ardor of their performances brought audiences to their feet in both the opera house and in movie theaters. And the unique, up-close-and-personal camerawork takes the viewer onstage to witness some of the production’s most memorable images and sultriest moments as never before.
Un Ballo in Mas... (Jan. 26, 1991)

Un Ballo in Maschera
(Jan. 26, 1991)

Composer: Giuseppe Verdi
Librettist: Antonio Somma

Levine; Millo, Blackwell, Quivar, Pavarotti, Nucci

Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and Chorus

Approximate running time: 2 hrs. 15 min.

This atmospheric production by Piero Faggioni, conducted by James Levine, captures all the brooding power and elegance of Verdi’s drama of love and politics. Luciano Pavarotti stars as Riccardo, the unlucky ruler in love with his best friend’s wife, Amelia (Aprile Millo). Leo Nucci is the husband torn between loyalty and his thirst for revenge, and Florence Quivar sings Ulrica, the fortuneteller who prophesizes the tragic ending.
Les Contes d'Ho... (Jan. 8, 1988)

Les Contes d'Hoffmann
(Jan. 8, 1988)

Composer: Jacques Offenbach
Librettist: Jules Barbier and Michel Carré

Dutoit; Bradley, Alexander, Troyanos, Shicoff, Morris

Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and Chorus

Approximate running time: 2 hrs. 46 min.

Otto Schenk’s brilliant production captures both the dark romanticism of the story as well as its fairy-tale magic. It is a superb setting for Neil Shicoff’s vivid portrayal of the tortured poet Hoffmann, as he recounts the loves of his life and the way he has been foiled by his nemesis—a marvelous James Morris in a tour-de-force performance of the opera’s four villains. Gwendolyn Bradley is the doll Olympia, Tatiana Troyanos sings the courtesan Giulietta, and Roberta Alexander portrays the innocent Antonia.
Otello (Sep. 24, 1979)

Otello
(Sep. 24, 1979)

Composer: Giuseppe Verdi
Librettist: Arrigo Boito

Levine; Cruz-Romo, Domingo, Milnes

Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and Chorus

Approximate running time: 2 hrs. 29 min.

In an Opening Night performance for the history books, the great Plácido Domingo sings the title role of Verdi’s Otello for the first time at the Met. This supremely demanding part was to become his signature role, an accomplishment against which other interpreters are still measured to this day. Domingo stars opposite Sherrill Milnes’s conniving Iago and Gilda Cruz-Romo’s touching Desdemona, all brilliantly conducted by Music Director James Levine.
Tosca (Mar. 27, 1985)

Tosca
(Mar. 27, 1985)

Composer: Giacomo Puccini
Librettist: Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa

Sinopoli; Behrens, Domingo, MacNeil

Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and Chorus

Approximate running time: 2 hrs. 3 min.

Franco Zeffirelli’s productions are legendary—and for good reason. This new production of Puccini’s intensely dramatic opera had opened only two weeks before this performance and the excitement is palpable. Zeffirelli captures the overwhelming grandeur of Rome, as well as the dark undercurrent of decadence and corruption in the drama. Under his direction, the cast of great singing actors crackles with intensity. Hildegard Behrens as Tosca, the passionate singer in love with Cavaradossi (Plácido Domingo), who agrees to a night with Scarpia, the evil chief of police (Cornell MacNeil), in exchange for Cavaradossi’s freedom. Giuseppe Sinopoli conducts.
Andrea Chénier (Mar. 26, 1977)

Andrea Chénier
(Mar. 26, 1977)

Composer: Umberto Giordano
Librettist: Luigi Illica

Levine; Domingo, Arroyo, MacNeil, Kraft, Love, Chookasian

Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and Chorus

Approximate running time: 1 hrs. 56 min.

Start with the French Revolution, add one impassioned poet (who really lived) in love with a beautiful aristocratic woman, mix their tragic fate with Robespierre’s reign of terror, and you have one sensational opera. Superstar tenor Plácido Domingo is Andrea Chénier, velvet-voiced Martina Arroyo sings his lover Maddalena, and conductor James Levine keeps the drama blazing.
Così fan tutte (Feb. 27, 1982)

Così fan tutte
(Feb. 27, 1982)

Composer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Librettist: Lorenzo da Ponte

Levine; Lorengar, Rendall, Ewing, Carlson, Battle, Gramm

Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and Chorus

Approximate running time: 3 hrs. 5 min.

For a long time, Così fan tutte was considered scandalous. Which is not entirely surprising if you look at its story of two sisters (Maria Ewing and Pilar Lorengar) who jump from grief over their fiancés going off to war to agreeing to marry two attractive strangers (David Rendall and Lenus Carlson) within the space of a couple days. Except the strangers are in fact the fiancés in disguise, and the whole thing is a plot masterminded by a cynical old philosopher (Donald Gramm) and a clever maid (Kathleen Battle). Scandalous or not, Così fan tutte has remained one of opera’s most contemporary comedies—especially when conducted masterfully by James Levine.
Madama Butterfl... (Dec. 15, 1956)

Madama Butterfly
(Dec. 15, 1956)

Composer: Giacomo Puccini
Librettist: Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa

Mitropoulos; Albanese, Barioni, Elias, Brownlee

Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and Chorus

Approximate running time: 2 hrs. 11 min.

For a whole generation of opera goers the beloved soprano Licia Albanese embodied Madame Butterfly. Her vivid and passionate portrayal of the young geisha who tragically falls in love with an irresponsible US Navy officer remains as captivating today as it was half a century ago. Conductor Dimitri Mitropoulos brings out every nuance of Puccini’s exotic and masterful score. Daniele Barioni is Pinkerton and John Brownlee sings Sharpless.
La Traviata (Jan. 22, 1949)

La Traviata
(Jan. 22, 1949)

Composer: Giuseppe Verdi
Librettist: Francesco Maria Piave

Antonicelli; Steber, Di Stefano, Merrill

Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and Chorus

Approximate running time: 1 hrs. 54 min.

Verdi’s immortal tragedy about the clash of true love with social convention has seldom been as poignant as in this broadcast. The sensational Italian tenor Giuseppe Di Stefano, in his second season at the Met, offers his first Alfredo with the company—a tender, romantic, and gorgeously sung performance that perfectly matches Eleanor Steber’s sumptuous and touching Violetta. Robert Merrill, heard here at the beginning of his career, would go on to make the role of Germont one of his calling cards.