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Having opened the Met's 125th season with a gala performance, Renée Fleming returns for a new production of Massenet's Egyptian-set Thaïs, where she is reunited (as on their recording of the work) with Thomas Hampson as Athanaël.

Perhaps best known for its short interlude Méditation réligieuse, with its rapt violin solo, Massenet's Thaïs is beginning to make a comeback on the opera stage. The Met's new production, originally seen at the Lyric Opera Chicago, is directed by John Cox, conducted by Jesús López-Cobos and stars Fleming in the title role.

Athanaël (Hampson) is a former admirer of scandalous Egyptian courtesan Thaïs. He has converted to Christianity - indeed, he has become a coenobite monk - and the opera follows his attempts to urge her to do the same. She agrees to destroy her home and belongings, cross a desert with him and enter a convent, but having left her there Athenaël's all-too carnal desires conflict with his spirituality. He has a vision that she is dying and rushes back to the convent to see her and finds her on her deathbed...

Also in the cast is Michael Schade as Athanaël's friend Nicias, who just happens to be Thaïs' latest lover, but helps Athanaël to gain access to her.

The Metropolitan Opera is one of the world's great opera houses and by far America's largest. Dating back to 1883 its early history includes such conducting luminaries as Gustav Mahler and Arturo Toscanini, let alone the world's most famous opera singers. In 1966 it moved to its present theatre in the Lincoln Center and, since 1975, James Levine has been music director. This 125th anniversary season sees the recent appointment of Peter Gelb as general director, whose first solo season will be 2009/10.

Event Details
First date 8 Dec 2008
Country USA
State New York
County New York City Region
Town Newyork

Venue Details
Venue Metropolitan Opera House
Address  Lincoln Center, Columbus Ave (at 65th St) 10023,  Newyork,  New York,  USA
Tel +1 212 362 6000 (tickets & info)
Directions 

Lincoln Center subway.

(lines 1 or 9 train to 66th Street).
By Bus: 5, 7, 11, 66 or 104.
By Car: the Lincoln Center has a "park and lock" parking garage underground, open 24 hours a day.

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Event details can change. Please check with the organizers that the event is happening before making travel arrangements.

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