LINCOLN CENTER

The Metropolitan Opera
The National Audition finals

Conductor - Bertrand de Billy
Host - Lisette Oropesa*
Guest Artist - Javier Camarena

"Some of today’s greatest singers got their start in the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, including Renée Fleming, Susan Graham, Eric Owens, Stephanie Blythe, Hei-Kyung Hong, Lawrence Brownlee, Michael Fabiano, Lisette Oropesa, Christian Van Horn, Jamie Barton, Anthony Roth Costanzo, and Nadine Sierra."

“O zitt’re nicht, mein lieber Sohn ... Zum Leiden bin ich auserkoren” from Die Zauberflöte (Mozart) Jana McIntyre, Soprano

“Hai già vinta la causa ... Vedrò mentr’io sospiro” from Le Nozze di Figaro (Mozart)
Xiaomeng Zhang, Baritone

“I Want Magic” from A Streetcar Named Desire (Previn) Chasiti Lashay, Soprano

“Give him this orchid” from The Rape of Lucretia (Britten) Gabrielle Beteag, Mezzo-Soprano

“Sgombra è la sacra selva ... Deh! proteggimi, o Dio!” from Norma (Bellini)
Lindsay Kate Brown, Mezzo-Soprano

“Dich, teure Halle” from Tannhäuser (Wagner) Alexandria Shiner, Soprano

“Carlos, écoute ... Ah, je meurs, l’âme joyeuse” from Don Carlos (Verdi)
Blake Denson, Baritone

“Depuis le jour” from Louise (G. Charpentier) Denis Vélez, Soprano

“Ah! Mes amis ... Pour mon âme!” from La Fille du Régiment (Donizetti)
Jonah Hoskins, Tenor

Intermission

“Mab, reine des mensonges” from Roméo et Juliette (Gounod) Xiaomeng Zhang, Baritone

“A vos jeux, mes amis ... Partagez-vous mes fleurs” from Hamlet (Thomas)
Jana McIntyre, Soprano

“Io son l’umile ancella” from Adriana Lecouvreur (Cilea) Chasiti Lashay, Soprano

“Ja, Gretelchen ... Hurr hopp hopp hopp” from Hänsel und Gretel (Humperdinck)
Gabrielle Beteag, Mezzo-Soprano

“To this we’ve come” from The Consul (Menotti) Alexandria Shiner, Soprano

“Da, chas nastal! ... Prastitye vi” from The Maid of Orleans (Tchaikovsky) Lindsay Kate Brown, Mezzo-Soprano

“Sì, ritrovarla io giuro” from La Cenerentola (Rossini) Jonah Hoskins, Tenor

“Tu che di gel sei cinta” from Turandot (Puccini) Denis Vélez, Soprano

“Oh, Lawd Jesus, hear my prayer” from The Emperor Jones (Gruenberg) Blake Denson, Baritone

GUEST ARTIST

“Ah! lève-toi, soleil!” from Roméo et Juliette (Gounod) “È la solita storia del pastore” from L’Arlesiana (Cilea)

Javier Camarena, Tenor

ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE GRAND FINALS WINNERS

Five Singers Named 2020 Winners Of The Metropolitan Opera's National Council Auditions

BWW News Desk

After a months-long series of competitions at the district, regional, and national levels, a panel of expert judges named five singers as the winners of the 2020 Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions. Each winner receives a $20,000 cash prize-up from $15,000, the first increase since 1998-and the prestige and exposure that come with winning the competition that launched the careers of many of opera's biggest stars.

The 2020 winners, the regions they represent in the competition, and their hometowns are:

· Gabrielle Beteag, 25, mezzo-soprano (Southeast Region: Lilburn, GA)

· Blake Denson, 24, baritone (Midwest Region: Paducah, KY)

· Jonah Hoskins, 23, tenor (Rocky Mountain Region: Saratoga Springs, UT)

· Alexandria Shiner, 29, soprano (Middle Atlantic Region: Waterford, MI)

· Denis Vélez, 27, soprano (Gulf Coast Region: Puebla, Mexico)

Earlier this afternoon, nine finalists performed on the Met stage in the final phase of the competition, hosted by soprano Lisette Oropesa, a 2005 National Council winner. Each finalist sang two arias with the Met Orchestra, led by Bertrand de Billy, followed by a guest performance by tenor Javier Camarenawhile the judges deliberated. The audience for the Grand Finals Concert, which was open to the public, included artistic directors of leading opera companies, artist managers, important teachers and coaches, music critics, and many other industry professionals with the potential to play an influential role in the career of a young singer. The concert was also streamed live on the Met's website and heard live on satellite radio.

The remaining four finalists, who each receive a $10,000 cash prize (up from $7,500), are:

· Lindsay Kate Brown, 28, mezzo-soprano (Upper Midwest Region: Waterloo, NY)

· Chasiti Lashay, 27, soprano (Western Region: Houston, TX)

· Jana McIntyre, 28, soprano (Midwest Region: Santa Barbara, CA)

· Xiaomeng Zhang, 29, baritone (New England Region: Wenzhou, China)

For the first time since 1998, the cash prizes increased to $20,000 for the winners and $10,000 for the remaining finalists to further their careers. Lisette Oropesa generously donated $25,000 this year to inspire a permanent increase in the award amounts, with many existing donors committing to join the effort. The National Council has named her its National Advisor in recognition of this gift.

This year's finalists were chosen from more than 1,000 singers who participated in auditions held in 40 districts throughout the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico, and Mexico, and who then competed in the 12 regional finals. These auditions are sponsored by the Metropolitan Opera National Council and administered by National Council members and hundreds of volunteers from across the country.