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Garanča recently sang the title role of La Cenerentola at the Met last spring to great acclaim; that production was transmitted to movie theaters worldwide as part of the Met's Live in HD series. This will be the first time that she has sung Carmen at the Met. The Latvian soprano will perform on December 31, January 5, 8, 12, 16, and 21.

Gheorghiu will appear as Carmen as scheduled on April 28 and May 1, 2010; she also reprises her portrayal of Violetta in La Traviata at the Met in the spring.

As the rehearsal period for Carmen coincides with the performances of the Met's new production of Les Contes d'Hoffmann, Kate Lindsey will replace Garanča as the Muse/Nicklausse in the Offenbach work. Hoffmann opens December 3.

A graduate of the Met's Lindemann Young Artist Development Program, Lindsey made her company debut in 2005 as Javotte in Manon. She has since appeared in numerous roles including Cherubino in Le Nozze di Figaro and St_phano in Rom_o et Juliette. This will mark Lindsey's role debut as the Muse/Nicklausse.

Garanča made her Met debut as Rosina in Il Barbiere di Siviglia in 2008. She made her role debut as Carmen in her native Latvia, and is scheduled to sing the part in Covent Garden next fall.

The new Carmen, conducted by Yannick N_zet-S_guin, premieres on New Year's Eve with a cast that also features Barbara Frittoli as MicaêŠla, Roberto Alagna as Don Jos_, and Mariusz Kwiecien as Escamillo. Later performances star Olga Borodina as Carmen, Maija Kovalevska as MicaêŠla, Brandon Jovanovich and Jonas Kaufmann as Don Jos_, and Teddy Tahu Rhodes as Escamillo. The production is directed by Richard Eyre, with sets and costumes by Rob Howell and lighting by Peter Mumford. Christopher Wheeldon is creating the choreography. Carmen will be seen Live in HD on January 16.

For information visit the Metropolitan Opera.