Met Opera’s Chief Leaves ‘Figaro’

Yannick Nezet-SeguinThe music director of the Metropolitan Opera, the company announced on Monday evening that it will not be performing a January revival of Mozart’s “Le Nozze di Figaro” as planned.

Noting that Nézet-Séguin “will take a short break of about four weeks from all management duties from December 19,” the Met said, “This short break will give us time to re-energize. Come back in the new year with more inspiring arts.”

The Philadelphia Orchestra, of which Nézet-Séguin is also musical director, announced that Xian Zhang would take over his scheduled concerts on December 31 and January 2, but said the leave would not affect his appearance in the orchestra at Carnegie Hall. On January 11 or at the next two weeks of subscription concerts in Philadelphia on January.

Known for keeping a particularly busy schedule early in his career and sometimes canceling, Nézet-Séguin currently leads the Met’s run of Matthew Aucoin and Sarah Ruhl. “Eurydice.” It’s her second company premiere this fall, after opening the season with Terence Blanchard and Kasi Lemmons. “Turn Out The Fire In My Bones.”

He has also led the Met’s forces in outdoor performances. Mahler’s Second Symphony and a national broadcast version Verdi’s Lament For the 20th anniversary of the September 11 attacks, as well as concerts in Philadelphia, Carnegie and Montreal, where Orchester Métropolitain is the musical director.

He is directing Puccini’s “Tosca” on Thursday, December 18th at the Met and a new production of Verdi’s “Don Carlos”, which will hit theaters on February 28th.

Daniele Rustioni will replace Nézet-Séguin for the “Figaro” run, which begins January 8 – to produce a new “Rigoletto” at the Met starting New Years Eve – and Gareth Morrell (for the final performance, on January 28). . Five more “Figaro” performances scheduled for April will be performed by James Gaffigan.