Madama Butterfly at the Metropolitan Opera

Matthew Polenzani is back at the Metropolitan Opera, where cultures collide in Puccini’s Madama Butterfly, a poignant tale of a loyal geisha and a callous American naval officer whose fleeting romance leaves only devastation behind. He stars as Pinkerton opposite Ailyn Pérez as Cio-Cio-San in Anthony {...}

Read Article

Un ballo in maschera at Opéra Bastille

Verdi’s opera Un ballo in maschera was inspired by a real historical event: the assassination of King Gustav III of Sweden during a costume ball in 1792. Verdi had a run-in with the censors, who were scandalised by the idea of depicting regicide on stage. His masked ball is set in America and focuses {...}

Read Article

Schubert and Italian songs in Philadelphia

After his spring 2024 PCMS appearance, Matthew Polenzani returns to the stage of the Perelman Theater alongside pianist Ken Noda to regale the audience with an unforgettable evening of singing on December 16. The first half of the program features Schubert’s Schwanengesang, a deep exploration of {...}

Read Article

Don Josè at the Metropolitan Opera

Bizet’s Carmen, a fiery masterpiece of seduction, obsession, and tragedy, stars Isabel Leonard opposite Matthew Polenzani, who returns to the Metropolitan Opera to star as Don Josè on November 14, 17, 21 and 29. Conductor Fabien Gabel leads the performances, also featuring Adam Plachetka as Escamillo and {...}

Read Article