The Met announces 2009-2010 season

Today the Met has announced the new 2009-2010 season.

A powerhouse team joins forces for Offenbach’s psychological fantasy Les Contes d'Hoffmann. James Levine conducts, and Tony Award winner Bart Sher (South Pacific) returns after the triumph of his Met Barber of Seville to direct. Inspired by Kafka, Sher describes his production as “a magical journey in which the character works out different manifestations of his psyche.” Rolando Villazón plays Hoffmann, a tour de force role for the tenor. Also starring soprano Anna Netrebko as the tragic Antonia, Elina Garanca as the ambiguous Nicklausse, and René Pape as the demonic four villains.

Anna Netrebko stars in La Bohème, the most popular opera in the repertory. Piotr Beczala, who signaled his arrival as a top lyric tenor in last season’s Lucia di Lammermoor, sings his first Met Rodolfo in Franco Zeffirelli’s legendary production. Gerald Finley and George Petean alternate as Marcello, opposite Nicole Cabell and Ruth Ann Swenson alternating as Musetta.

The 2009-10 HD series will feature nine transmissions, beginning October 10 with Tosca and continuing with Aida (October 24), Turandot (November 7), Les Contes d’Hoffmann (December 19), Der Rosenkavalier (January 9), Carmen (January 16), Simon Boccanegra (February 6), Hamlet (March 27), and Armida (May 1).

Read the Met Press release
Read the Anna Netrebko Performances Database, including the upcoming perfomances at the Met 2009-2010 season