êlvarez made his role debut in a 2006 Parma, Italy, production of the work. Other notable appearances include Cavaradossi in Puccini's Tosca at the Royal Opera House in London, the title role in Gounod's Faust in Munich, Hoffman in Les contes d'Hoffmann, Rodolfo in a Milan staging of Franco Zeffirelli's La Bohme and a different Rodolfo, in Verdi's Luisa Miller at the Royal Opera House opposite Italian soprano Barbara Frittoli.
In order to properly rehearse for and perform Il Trovatore, êlvarez has bowed out of Cilea's Adriana Lecouvreur, which is to open February 6. His replacement in that production will be announced at a later date.
The new production of Il Trovatore, directed by David McVicar, with sets by Charles Edwards, costumes by Brigitte Reiffenstuel, lighting by Jennifer Tipton, and choreography by Leah Hausman, premieres on February 16, conducted by Gianandrea Noseda. The first night cast includes Sondra Radvanovsky as Leonora, Dolora Zajick as Azucena, Dmitri Hvorostovsky as Count di Luna, and Kwangchul Youn as Fernando.
Visit www.metopera.org for more information.
