FOR THE FIRST TIME IN COMPANY HISTORY, THE MET PRESENTS THE ORIGINAL FIVE-ACT FRENCH VERSION OF VERDI’S EPIC OPERA OF DOOMED LOVE AMONG ROYALTY, SET AGAINST THE BACKDROP OF THE SPANISH INQUISITION. MET MUSIC DIRECTOR YANNICK NÉZET-SÉGUIN LEADS A STARRY CAST, INCLUDING TENOR MATTHEW POLENZANI IN THE TITLE ROLE, SOPRANO SONYA YONCHEVA AS ÉLISABETH SE VALOIS, AND MEZZO-SOPRANO ELĪNA GARANČA AS EBOLI. BASS GÜNTHER GROISSBÖCK AND BASS-BARITONE JOHN RELYEA ARE PHILIPPE II AND THE GRAND INQUISITOR, AND BARITONE ÉTIENNE DUPUIS ROUNDS OUT THE PRINCIPAL CAST AS RODRIGUE. VERDI’S MASTERPIECE REVEIVES A MONUMENTAL NEW STAGING BY DAVID MCVICAR THAT MARKS HIS 11TH MET PRODUCTION, PLACING HIM AMONG THE MOST PROLIFIC AND POPULAR DIRECTORS IN RECENT MET MEMORY.