From classical ballet to postmodern opera, the classic arts scene in New York is never quiet. Here is just a sampling of some of the classic arts events happening this week.
John Adams鈥� nativity opera-oratorio El Ni帽o opens at the Metropolitan Opera April 23. With a libretto derived from the King James Bible, assorted biblical apocrypha, and secular texts in English, Spanish, and Latin, El Ni帽o tells the story of the nativity. Grammy award鈥搘inning soprano Julia Bullock makes her Met debut, leading a cast which also includes mezzo-soprano J'Nai Bridges, baritone Dav贸ne Tines, and countertenors Key'mon W. Murrah, Siman Chung, and Eric Jurenas. Marin Alsop conducts the production by Tony nominee Lileana Blain-Cruz (The Skin of Our Teeth), with scenic design by Adam Rigg, costume design by Montana Levi Blanco, and puppet design by James Ortiz.
Carrie Cracknell鈥檚 production of Bizet鈥檚 Carmen returns to the Met stage April 25, conducted by Diego Matheuz, and starring mezzo-soprano Cl茅mentine Margaine as Carmen. Tenor Michael Fabiano plays Don Jos茅, with soprano Ailyn P茅rez as Micaela, and bass-baritone Ryan Speedo Green as Escamillo. Green pulls double-duty this week as he also stars as Charles M. Blow in Terence Blanchard鈥檚 Fire Shut Up in My Bones, which continues at the Met through May 2.
Also returning to the Met after a brief mid-season hiatus is Puccini鈥檚 Madama Butterfly. Xian Zhang returns to conduct five more performances of Anthony Minghella鈥檚 production, starring soprano Asmik Grigorian making her Met debut as Cio-Cio San. Tenor Jonathan Tetelman, fresh off of his Met debut as Ruggero in Puccini鈥檚 La Rondine, plays Pinkerton, with mezzo-soprano Elizabeth DeShong as Suzuki and baritone Lucas Meachem as Sharpless.
The New York City Ballet returns to the David H. Koch Theatre for its spring season, opening April 23 with an all-Balanchine program, including Bourr茅e Fantasque, with music by Chabrier; The Steadfast Tin Soldier, with music by Bizet; Errante, with music by Ravel; and Symphony in C, with music by Bizet. The two programs bookending this program showcase a style of classical ballet: Symphony in C in a more stately and decadent form, with 50 dancers outfitted in Swarovski crystals; and Bourr茅e Fantasque with a humorous spin on the conventions of the genre.
Jerome Robbins, NYCB鈥檚 other co-founding choreographer, will be represented in the season鈥檚 second program, opening April 26. That program will include Robbins鈥� Dances at a Gathering, set to music by Chopin, as well as Balanchine鈥檚 Brahms-Schoenberg Quartet.
The New York Philharmonic will give a Spring Gala concert April 24, conducted by Gustavo Dudamel, ahead of his joining the orchestra as music director in the 2025-26 season. The concert at Lincoln Center鈥檚 David Geffen Hall will feature special guests soprano Hera Hyesang Park, Grammy award winning artist Common, and guitarist and former New York Yankees center fielder Bernie Williams, in a program including works by Common and Williams, as well as the New York premiere of Nina Shekhar鈥檚 The Mother is Standing, Villa-Lobos鈥� Bachianas brasileiras No. 5, Arturo M谩rquez鈥檚 Danz贸n No. 8, and Richard Strauss鈥檚 Suite from Der Rosenkavalier.
Violinist Hilary Hahn joins the New York Philharmonic for another concert in her season as Artist-in-Residence, this one themed after the 鈥淪ounds of Spain.鈥� Juanjo Mena conducts the program, which includes Ravel鈥檚 Rapsodie espagnole, Ginastera鈥檚 Violin Concerto, Sarasate鈥檚 Carmen Fantasy, Debbusy鈥檚 滨产茅谤颈补 from Images pour orchestre, and Ravel鈥檚 叠辞濒茅谤辞.
Jakub Hr暖拧a leads the Bamberg Symphony at Carnegie Hall April 24, in a program opening with Wagner鈥檚 Prelude to Lohengrin, and concluding with his overture to 罢补苍苍丑盲耻蝉别谤. In between, the orchestra will play Brahms鈥� Symphony No. 3, and Robert Schumann鈥檚 Piano Concerto with soloist H茅l猫ne Grimaud. The program presents a microcosm of the so-called 鈥淲ar of the Romantics,鈥� a debate between competing schools of musicians in the mid-19th century, with Brahms and Schumann on one side, and Wagner on the other.
Carnegie Hall will host more Brahms and Schumann the very next day, April 25, with baritone Matthias Goerne and pianist Evgeny Kissin giving a recital of lieder by the two composers.
Ballet Hisp谩nico returns to New York City Center April 25-28 for three repertory performances, an En Familia Matinee, and a Gala Performance, celebrating Eduardo Vilaro鈥檚 15th season as Artistic Director of the company. The performances will include the world premiere of Vilaro鈥檚 Buscando a Juan, as well works in the company鈥檚 repertory by Annabelle Lopez Ochoa, Gustavo Ram铆rez Sansano, Geoffrey Holder, Talley Beatty, and Pedro Ruiz.
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