Ben Heppner News

This spring, the Metropolitan Opera will present The Audition, a documentary film about the intense challenges and pressures young opera singers face as they try to become opera stars. Directed by award-winning filmmaker Susan Froemke, The Audition will be shown on 400 screens across the country on April 19 at 3pm EST (and in Canada on June 6 at 1pm EST) as part of the Metropolitan Opera's series of high definition presentations in movie theaters and performing arts centers. The Audition is a suspenseful competition narrative that provides a revealing behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to make it as an opera star. The feature-length film documents the 2007 Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, where each year thousands of hopefuls compete for a cash prize, the chance to sing on the storied Met stage-and the opportunity to launch a major operatic career. The film focuses on the final week of the competition, as judges narrow the field down from 22 semi-finalists to11 finalists while the stakes get higher and the pressure grows more intense. The documentary crew was given unprecedented access to the singers, judges, and events backstage at the Met.

Today, November 29, the Metropolitan Opera Radio Saturday Matinee Broadcasts launches its 78th season of world-class opera heard over the Toll Brothers-Metropolitan Opera International Radio Network with the network premiere of Berlioz's La Damnation de Faust.

The Metropolitan Opera celebrates its 125th anniversary year with a unique gala performance on March 15, 2009 at 6:00 p.m., featuring Met stars in recreations of historic classic productions and high points in the company's past. Music Director James Levine conducts the evening of 26 staged scenes that, with the use of projections, and scenic and costume recreations, will evoke the Met's illustrious history.

Young singers from around the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico will compete for $15,000 cash prizes and the chance to perform in the Grand Finals Concert on the nation's most prestigious opera stage when the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions launches its 55th annual auditions program this fall.

On November 29, the Metropolitan Opera Radio Saturday Matinee Broadcasts launches its 78th season of world-class opera heard over the Toll Brothers-Metropolitan Opera International Radio Network with the network premiere of Berlioz's La Damnation de Faust.

After an absence of more than 15 years, maestro Seiji Ozawa returns to the Met to conduct six performances of Tchaikovsky's The Queen of Spades, from November 21 to December 13, 2008.

Metropolitan Opera on SIRIUS Satellite Radio channel 78 launches its regular live broadcasts of the company's 2008-09 season with the Opening Night Gala starring Renée Fleming, which airs on Monday, September 22, 2008 at 6:30 p.m. The third season of Met Opera Radio on SIRIUS features four live broadcasts weekly as the Met celebrates its 125th anniversary with six new productions, including the company premiere of John Adams's Doctor Atomic, 18 revivals, and the season grand finale of Wagner's epic Ring cycle, conducted by Music Director James Levine.

Opera Pacific announces 'Susannah' as the final opera of their 2007-2008 season. Performances begin May 14th.

Seattle Opera General Director Speight Jenkins today announced the names of the eight finalists and two alternates selected for the second International Wagner Competition, which will be held at McCaw Hall in Seattle on August 16, 2008. The singers-all between the ages of 25 and 39-were nominated by agents, general directors, and other established opera professionals.

Janice Baird will sing the role of Isolde in this evening's performance of Wagner's Tristan und Isolde replacing Deborah Voigt, who is ill. Ms. Baird made her Met debut as Isolde on March 14, substituting for Voigt who withdrew due to illness during Act II. James Levine conducts, and Ben Heppner sings his first Tristan of the season. Voigt is still scheduled to sing the final performance of the run on Friday, March 28.

Robert Dean Smith will make his Met debut on Saturday, March 22, singing the role of Tristan in Wagner's Tristan und Isolde. The performance, which begins at 12:30 p.m/ET, will be transmitted live to movie theaters around the world as part of The Met: Live in HD series. Ben Heppner, who was originally slated to sing that performance, is still recovering from an illness, and is scheduled to sing on Tuesday, March 25 and Friday, March 28.

Gary Lehman will make his Met debut on Friday, March 14, singing the role of Tristan in Wagner's Tristan und Isolde, replacing Ben Heppner, who is ill.

The Metropolitan Opera's 'Live in High Definition' series of live satellite transmissions into movie theaters achieved record-breaking attendance in its first weekend of the new 2007-08 season. The first transmission on Saturday, December 15-Romeo et Juliette, starring Anna Netrebko and Roberto Alagna, conducted by Placido Domingo-drew a worldwide audience of 97,000.

The second season of Metropolitan Opera: Live in High Definition kicks off worldwide on Saturday, December 15 at 1PM (EST) with the first of the Met's eight live opera transmissions: Gounod's Roméo et Juliette, starring Anna Netrebko and Roberto Alagna, conducted by Plácido Domingo.

In honor of the Met's 30th anniversary on PBS, Thirteen/WNET New York's 'Great Performances at the Met' series presents 'Great Moments at the Met: Viewer's Choice,' a showcase of fans' favorite televised Met moments, chosen through online voting.