MET production again in Polish cinemas

The Metropolitan Opera’s Live in HD returns to cinemas on April 20 with the screening of Puccini’s ”La Rondine” (”The Swallow”). The three-act opera, written in 1917, premiered on the New York stage on March 10, 1928. For 96 years, it has only been performed a total of 33 times at the Met where it was last shown in 2013. The live broadcast will be a rare opportunity to see one of Puccini’s lesser-known works with a sterling cast.

Nicolas Joël’s Art Deco–inspired staging transports audiences from the heart of Parisian nightlife of the 1920s to a dreamy vision of the French Riviera. ”La Rondine” tells the love story of a wealthy banker’s mistress, the courtesan Magda, and the young Ruggero, who comes to Paris from the provinces. The two have fun at Bullier’s bar. Magda disguises herself as a maid and introduces herself as Paulette to Ruggero. A deep feeling awakens in both of them and Magda decides to leave her “golden cage.” The lovers live happily far from Paris for months until Ruggero wants to legalize their relationship and marry Magda. She decides to come clean to him about her past. She leaves her beloved and returns to Paris, to her former life as a courtesan.

The role of Magda will be played by Angel Blue. Earlier this season, the soprano appeared, alongside tenor Piotr Beczała, as Micaëla in “Carmen”. Of her opening night performance in ”La Rondine”, the Financial Times noted: “Angel Blue’s luscious soprano ennobles Puccini rarity.” In the current production, she is accompanied by debuting American tenor Jonathan Tetelman.

Also making their Met debuts in ”La Rondine” are American soprano Emily Pogorelc and tenor Bekhzod Davronov from Uzbekistan, as Lisette and Prunier. Maestro Speranza Scappucci, the first female Italian conductor ever to conduct a production at La Scala in Milan, will be on the podium.

The Metropolitan Opera: Live in HD 2023-24 is the seventeenth season of the award-winning series of live movie theatre transmissions from the New York Met Opera. Other Puccini’s opera lined up for the current season is ”Madama Butterfly” (May 11).