Radio Revival


Ferruccio Furlanetto as Philip II in Verdi’s “Don Carlo”, on the Met.

By Lori Simmons Zelenko

The grand institution of opera is no longer a privilege reserved solely for the wealthy or elite. Thanks in great part to the efforts of the Metropolitan Opera, the scores of Wagner and Strauss have become a far more widely accessible experience. With services like streams of both live and classical performances on their website and on The Metropolitan Opera Radio station on Sirius XM channel 74, more people are getting the opportunity to enjoy these performances.

Performances like the upcoming February 22nd revival of Verdi’s Don Carlo, helmed by none other than legendary conductor, Lorin Maazel. No stranger to the demands of the Met, Maazel made his debut performance with Mozart’s Don Giovanni during the 1962-63 season and returned after a 40 year absence to conduct Der Rosenkavalier in 2008. His appearance now marks a very rare treat for opera enthusiasts and under his direction, seasoned Met players RamónVargas (debuting in a Met title role), Barbara Frittoli, Anna Smirnova, Dmitri Hvorostovsky, Ferruccio Furlanetto, and Eric Halfvarson will delight both live patrons and the many listening in from the comforts of their home.

The upcoming revival of Verdi’s Don Carlo at the Met showcases the veritable talents of Ramón Vargas, Barbara Frittoli, Anna Smirnova, Dmitri Hvorostovsky, Ferruccio Furlanetto, and Eric Halfvarson. While these players are normally reason enough to experience opera at the Met, patrons are in for a special treat as renowned conductor, Lorin Maazel leads the production on its February 22 opening. Boasting a career spanning seven decades, Maazel tackles the Nicholas Hytner revival, which opened to critical acclaim in the 2010-11 season. The opening performances will be streamed live on the Met’s website (www.metopera.org) as well as on the their Sirius XM station.


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