{"id":115171,"date":"2025-06-13T16:21:30","date_gmt":"2025-06-13T20:21:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/?p=115171"},"modified":"2025-06-16T08:00:01","modified_gmt":"2025-06-16T12:00:01","slug":"preview-critics-picks-met-live-hd-2025-summer-encores","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/2025\/06\/13\/preview-critics-picks-met-live-hd-2025-summer-encores\/","title":{"rendered":"PREVIEW | Critic\u2019s Picks: Met Live In HD 2025 Summer Encores"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"The
The Metropolitan Opera\u2019s La Traviata, with Diana Damrau as Violetta and Juan Diego Florez as Alfredo (Photo courtesy of Met Opera)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

With a scintillating production of Rossini\u2019s beloved Il barbiere di Siviglia on May 31, the 2024-25 Met Live in HD season came to a glorious close. As I am writing this, it is June 12, with a final Barbiere encore to take place on Saturday, June 14.<\/p>\n

For those wanting an operatic summer, the 2025 Summer Encores fits the bill nicely. On offer is a terrific lineup of four performances from past seasons. For the Met HD fans, these shows are well worth a re-acquaintance. These are your proverbial \u201cwarhorses,\u201d very much part of the core repertoire.<\/p>\n

In fact, Traviata is the second most performed operas worldwide from 1996 to present, according to the Operabase website. Barber of Seville and Rigoletto are not far behind, at 9th and 10th place
\nrespectively.<\/p>\n

Met Live in HD: Summer 2025<\/h2>\n

Here\u2019s a quick rundown of what\u2019s in store.<\/p>\n

Verdi: La Traviata (Wednesday, July 23, 2025; Encore on Saturday, July 26, 2025)<\/strong><\/p>\n

This 2018 performance marked the start of Canadian conductor Yannick Nezet-Seguin\u2019s tenure as the Met\u2019s Music Director. It also represents the Met\u2019s gradual transition from wholly traditional productions to a more director-driven approach. Director Michael Mayer\u2019s vision is essentially conventional, but with a few twists. I enjoyed it, but frankly I could do without Violetta\u2019s bed placed centre-stage throughout the opera! It opens with Violetta in her death bed, and all actions we see represent her flashback, an effective and poignant touch. The big-name cast stars Diana Damrau as Violetta. By 2018, Damrau was no longer the stratospheric high soprano, and she omits the interpolated high E flat at the end of her big aria. Peruvian tenor Juan Diego Florez is Alfredo, a departure from his typical Bel Canto repertoire. As Germont, we have the sturdy voice of American baritone Quinn Kelsey. A must see.<\/p>\n

Gounod: Rom\u00e9o et Juliette (Wednesday, July 30, 2025; Encore on Saturday, August 2, 2025)<\/strong><\/p>\n

This Bartlett Sher production originated at the Salzburg Festival and later premiered at the Met in the 2016-17 season, starring Diana Damrau and Vittorio Grigolo. This 2024 revival was equally stellar, with Nadine Sierra and Benjamin Bernheim. If truth be told, I find Bernheim\u2019s sincere Romeo more to my liking than the wildly over-the-top emoting of Grigolo. Bernheim\u2019s \u201cAh, L\u00e8ve-toi, soleil\u201d is beautifully sung \u2014 do have a listen here<\/a>. The supporting cast is also strong, with Samantha Hankey as Stefano and Will Liverman as Mercutio. Yannick Nezet-Seguin is in his element in the French repertoire and it shows.<\/p>\n

Donizetti: Lucia di Lammermoor (Wednesday, August 6, 2025; Encore on Saturday, August 9, 2025)<\/strong><\/p>\n

This 2022 performance stars soprano Nadine Sierra and tenor Javier Camarena, both in excellent voice. The Simon Stone production is a prime example of the Met\u2019s slow but sure transition from totally traditional stagings to a more director-driven approach. Stone has updated it to present-day America \u2014 a far cry from the Scottish Highlands that Donizetti had in mind! The singing is terrific \u2014 there\u2019s a sample here<\/a>. Italian conductor Riccardo Frizza leads the Met forces in an idiomatic performance.<\/p>\n

Verdi: Rigoletto (Wednesday, August 13, 2025; Encore on Saturday, August 16, 2025)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Once again, director Michael Mayer has a directorial vision light years from Verdi\u2019s. He has time-shifted it to 1960s Las Vegas(!), with all the glitz and glamour that this new locale provides. Frankly, it\u2019s a bit too crazy for me, but you decide for yourself. Here\u2019s Mayer sharing his thoughts<\/a> in an interview. Polish tenor Piotr Beczala sounds great as the Duke; the same is true for the Gilda of Diana Damrau. Serbian baritone \u017deljko Lu\u010di\u0107 is Rigoletto, here no longer the court jester! Slovak bass \u0160tefan Koc\u00e1n is an impressive Sparafucile. Italian conductor Michele Mariotti is at the helm.<\/p>\n