Unlike with Klinghoffer and labor negotiations (above), the Met has come away looking good when it took a risk presenting Latvian soprano Kristine Opolais in a unique, stunning double-debut in the title role of Madama Butterfly and as Mimi in La bohème. Fortunately, the La bohème performance in which she appeared, replacing the ailing Anita Hartig, was scheduled to be filmed for PBS Great Performances, and so you can watch this history-making event.
Scheduled nationally at 9 p.m. on June 27, the telecast will be shown in San Francisco at 7 p.m. June 30 on KQED-LIFE, ch. 10. The ancient Franco Zeffirelli production of the most-performed opera in Met history is also starring Italian tenor Vittorio Grigolo as Rodolfo, Susanna Phillips sings the flirtatious Musetta, and Massimo Cavalletti is the painter Marcello; led by Italian conductor Stefano Ranzani. Also featured in the cast are Patrick Carfizzi as Schaunard, Merola program alumnus Oren Gradus as Colline, and Donald Maxwell as Benoît/Alcindoro.
Opolais has sung Mimi with the Vienna State Opera, Berlin State Opera, and Latvian National Opera and will sing the role at the Met next season. She made an acclaimed Met debut last year as Magda in Puccini's La Rondine. She is the wife of conductor Andris Nelsons, music director designate of the Boston Symphony.