Olga Peretyatko to Make Met Debut in 'i Puritani'; A Look at Past Met Elviras

On April 17, the Metropolitan Opera will revive Sandro Sequi's production of Bellini's "I Puritani."

The opera tells the story of Elvira, a young woman who is driven to madness when her lover Arturo leaves her. The opera is known for its difficult soprano role and its demanding tenor role which features high Ds written by the composer.

The opera is rarely performed because it is often hard to cast and as a result the Met has reserved the work for Divas.

The opera was first performed at the Met in 1883 by Marcella Sembrich. The soprano was known for her virtuosic abilities and even repeated the famous "Son Vergin Vezzosa," which has become a major showpiece for sopranos. Sembrich performed alongside Roberto Stagno, Giuseppe Kaschmann and Giovanni Mirabella in his Met debut. That season the opera was only presented once.

The opera returned for six performances in 1918 with Maria Barrientos. Richard Moranzoni conducted the run in a new production by Richard Ordynski. The rest of the cast included Hipolito Lazaro, Giuseooe De Luca, and Jose Mardones. 

While the run was a success, the opera would only be performed once more by the company 1919 in a tour to Atlanta. However, it would disappear for 57 years.

In 1976, Sequi directed a production that was billed especially for Joan Sutherland. However, the production was filled with an all-star cast that included Luciano Pavarotti, Sherril Milnes and James Morris. Richard Bonynge would conduct 10 performances. The run ended up being a huge success with the New York Times stating "it was an evening that electrified the house, thanks to Joan Sutherland and Luciano Pavarotti." One of the performances even received a broadcast on the radio.

The opera would once again disappear for another 10 years. In 1986 it reappeared to celebrate Sutherland's 25^th anniversary. This time, however, the cast included Salvatore Fisichella in his Met debut, bass Samuel ramey and Milnes returning to his role as Riccardo. Bonynge would conduct another 10 performances.

Five years later, the Slovakian coloratura soprano Edita Gruberova would make a rare appearance at the Met for another eight performances of the opera. The soprano would have to take on the role in the footsteps of Sutherland, which was daunting task. However, critics raved about her Elvira and stated, "Miss Gruberova proved quite up to chasing away shadows. Her Elvira, more believably girlish than some in the past, was a considerable success." Gruberova performed the role with Stanford Olsen and Chris Meritt as her tenors. Paolo Gavanelli and Paul Plishka would round out the cast with Bonynge conducting the opera once again.

In 1997, American soprano Ruth Ann Swenson performed the role of Elvira with Stuart Neill in his Met debut. Thomas Hampson performed the role of Riccardo while Alastair Miles preformed Giorgio. Eduardo Muller conducted the six performance run, which critics raved about. The New York Times stated, "Ruth Ann Swenson, as Elvira, sounded like herself, which is not a bad way to sound. Her voice is pretty, lustrous and agile, and it keeps its tone throughout the range. She is a virtuoso of the brilliant and the pleasant."

Nine years would pass before they presented the opera again. In 2006, Anna Netrebko returned the Met for seven performances in the role of Elvira. The soprano was making her role debut and made headlines when she decided to lie on her back on the stage floor near the orchestra pit with her head and arms dangling over the edge. The soprano received rave reviews and the performance was captured in HD and later released on DVD.

Seven years have passed since the opera was last shown and this year the Russian Soprano Olga Peretyatko will make Met debut with Elvira. She will also make a second debut as she is performing the role for the first time on stage. Peretyatko has been making headlines throughout Europe for her vocal lines and flexibility and is being hailed as a rising star.

The soprano will be accompanied by tenor Lawrence Brownlee in the role of Arturo and from the Met's press it looks like the tenor will sing a High F in one of his arias. Marisuz Kwiecien will return to the Met as Riccardo after opening the Met season in Tchaikovsky's "Eugene Onegin." Meanwhile, Michele Pertusi will sing the role of Giorgio.

Michele Mariotti will return to the Met podium to conduct his wife Peretyatko. The run will last seven performances.