March 16, 2020

Week seven: Lyric Commentaries for Met Opera Nightly Streams

April 27 marks week seven of the Metropolitan Opera's Nightly Streams. Enjoy your opera favorites from the comfort of your own home! 

Revisit this previous season's The Three Queens with Donizetti's Anna Bolena, Maria Stuarda, and Roberto Devereux streaming Monday-Wednesday. Supplement your time with a feature article written by Lyric's Roger Pines as he delves into the historical context of these Donizetti queens. This week's lineup also showcases many Lyric favorites including Sondra Radvanovsky, Ryan Opera Center Alum Matthew Polenzani, and Joyce DiDonato. 

To help you get the most out of these operas, Lyric Opera Commentaries discuss the synopsis, music, and some historical insight into how each piece was created. It’s like a Pre-Opera Talk you can enjoy at home!

Enjoy the background, and enjoy the operas! View more Lyric commentaries that enhance the Met's Nightly Streams. 

Lyric Opera Commentaries are sponsored by the Patrick G. and Shirley Welsh Ryan Foundation in memory of their parents.

Monday, April 27 – Donizetti: Anna Bolena

Starring Anna Netrebko, Ekaterina Gubanova, Stephen Costello, and Ildar Abdrazakov, conducted by Marco Armiliato on October 15, 2011. 

The Lyric Commentary is from the 2014|15 season and is read and written by Roger Pines.  

Anna Bolena

By Gaetano Donizetti

Lyric Opera Commentaries are sponsored by the Patrick G. and Shirley Welsh Ryan Foundation in memory of their parents.

Commentary by Roger Pines, Dramaturg

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Tuesday, April 28 – Donizetti: Maria Stuarda

Starring Elza van den Heever, Joyce DiDonato, and Matthew Polenzani, conducted by Maurizio Benini on January 19, 2013.

Wednesday, April 29 – Donizetti: Roberto Devereux

Starring Sondra Radvanovsky, Elīna Garanča, Matthew Polenzani, and Mariusz Kwiecien, conducted by Maurizio Benini on from April 16, 2016. 

...it’s the women who have the lion’s share of operatic glory, especially in the works of Gaetano Donizetti

Roger Pines, "Long may they reign: Donizetti’s glorious 'Three Queens'”

Thursday, April 30 – Muhly: Marnie

Starring Isabel Leonard, Iestyn Davies, and Christopher Maltman, conducted by Roberto Spano on November 10, 2018. Lyric Commentary not available for this title. 

Sunday, May 3 – Borodin: Prince Igor

Starring Oksana Dyka, Anita Rachvelishvili, and Ildar Abdrazakov, conducted by Gianandrea Noseda on March 1, 2014. Lyric Commentary not available for this title.

Photos: Dan Rest, Todd Rosenberg

Music used in Lyric Commentaries is provided courtesy of Warner Classics, the Official Education and Promotion Music Provider of Lyric Opera of Chicago.