Saturday April 18, 2026 7:30 p.m.

Giacomo Puccini

La Bohème

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ABOUT: "Enchanting setting and spellbinding score, the world’s most popular opera is as timeless as it is heartbreaking." The staging is one for the books! It is a breathtaking masterpiece that must be seen. Set in 1830s Paris a group of young bohemian artists struggle with poverty and fleeting love. 

 

THE OPERA: The main story follows the passionate relationship between the poet Rodolfo and the seamstress Mimì. The opera is based on the book "Scènes de la vie de" by Henri Murger and was reimagined in the Broadway smash hit and subsequent movie “Rent.” The characters navigate the complicated ups and downs of love, social aspects of a pandemic (akin to COVID), companionship for money, art for art's sake and a change in philanthropy after a world of wars.

 

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Friday June 5, 2026  8:00 p.m.

Gabriela Lena Frank /Libretto by Nilo Cruz

El Último Sueño de Frida y Diego

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ABOUT: “American composer Gabriela Lena Frank makes her Met debut with her first opera, a magical-realist portrait of Mexico’s painterly power couple Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera, with libretto by Pulitzer Prize–winning playwright Nilo Cruz. 

 

THE OPERA: Fashioned as a reversal of the Orpheus and Euridice myth (addressed in the Shances' class), the story depicts Frida, leaving the underworld on the Day of the Dead and reuniting with Diego. The famously feuding pair (Kahlo and Diego) briefly relive their tumultuous love, embracing both the passion and the pain before bidding the land of the living a final farewell. The vibrant new production, taking enthusiastic inspiration from Frida and Diego’s paintings, is directed and choreographed by Deborah Colker, following her remarkable 2024 debut staging of Ainadamar.”

 

 

Saturday June 6, 2026  1:00 p.m.

Giuseppe Verdi

La Traviata

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ABOUT:  La Traviata is adapted from"La Dame aux camélias," a play by Alexandre Dumas fils, which he adapted from his own 1848 novel, La Traviata takes place in late 19th Century Paris.

 

The story is loosely based Alexandre Dumas fils own relationship with a courtesan.  Alexandre Dumas fils was the son of author Alexandre Dumas whose famous books include The Three Musketeers and The Count of Monte Cristo. These books were derived from his father's life. Dumas' father was a famous general of mixed African and French heritage, born in Haiti to an enslaved African woman.

 

THE OPERA: “Violetta is a high-class courtesan and the most celebrated figure of a glamorous social scene. She loves her life – carefree, attached to no-one, her own woman. But Violetta is also seriously ill. Enter Alfredo, a poet who shows Violetta real, unconditional love for the first time. She falls for him and, abandoning her career, the two escape to a country retreat to live in domestic bliss. That is until Alfredo’s father shows up. He is unhappy with how his son’s relationship with a ‘fallen woman’ is damaging the family’s reputation and persuades Violetta to end things with Alfredo via a letter and return to the city.

Much later, Alfredo’s father is remorseful and finally reveals to his son why Violetta left him. He rushes to be with her, but Violetta’s sickness is now much worse… is it too late?”

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Saturday June 6, 2026  8:00 p.m.

Giacomo Puccini

Turandot

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ABOUT: “One of the most lavish and intricate [productions] in the company’s repertoire” (The New York Times), Franco Zeffirelli’s glittering take on Puccini’s final masterpiece returns to the stage. 

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Tourandot is Puccini’s final opera.  In some ways it mirrors his own “rock star” lifestyle and relationship with his wife.  Puccini's  personal story (addressed in the Shances class)  is what today's tabloids would kill to cover and was the catalyst for this masterpiece.

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THE OPERA: Ruthless Chinese Princess Turandot, who vows to marry a suitor only if he can solve three riddles; failure means death by execution. Prince Calaf accepts the challenge and successfully solves the riddles, but Turandot remains unwilling to marry him. Calaf offers a counter-challenge: he will forfeit his life if she can discover his name by dawn. The opera culminates in a story of love and compassion, where Turandot ultimately finds the courage to love.

 

[Shances' personal favorite!]

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Register for the corresponding Shances experience (link).

 

Buy your opera ticket using the Met website.