Director Michael Mayer has placed his new production of Verdi’s towering tragedy in Las Vegas in 1960—an ideal setting for this eternal conflict of depravity and innocence. In this production, inspired by the antics of the Rat Pack, Piotr Beczala is the womanizing Duke of Mantua, with Željko Lucic as his tragic sidekick, Rigoletto. Diana Damrau is Rigoletto’s daughter—and their victim. Michele...
Anita Rachvelishvili, the sultry Carmen who made a sensational Met debut in 2010, sings the title role in Richard Eyre’s fast-moving hit production of the tragic tale. Rising tenor Yonghoon Lee is Don José, whose doomed love for Carmen destroys them both. Kate Royal is the loyal Micaëla and Teddy Tahu Rhodes sings the swaggering bullfighter Escamillo. Michele Mariotti conducts in his Met debut.