Name: Thaïs
Start: 2008-12-20T00:00:00.000Z
End: 2008-12-20T00:00:00.000Z
Location: Metropolitan Opera House

Organization

Conductor

Jesús López-Cobos

Singer

Soprano

Renée Fleming

Thaïs

Tenor

Michael Schade

Nicias

Baritone

Thomas Hampson

Athanaël

The Metropolitan Opera

Others

Metropolitan Opera Choir

Orchestra

Metropolitan Opera Orchestra

French

New York City

United States

Metropolitan Opera House

When the most voluptuous, sought-after courtesan in the world meets an ascetic monk whose life is devoted to God, you know erotic sparks are going to fly. And when the clash takes place in a glorious, but rarely performed, opera by Massenet, it’s a delight to the ear just as much as to the eye. Renée Fleming is every inch the glamorous Thais, swathed in elegant gowns designed by Christian Lacroix. Thomas Hampson is the tortured man of God. This production by John Cox, which premiered in December 2008, brilliantly sets the stage for a confrontation as old as civilization itself.

Production booklet

Further reading