Latest news with #LaGioconda
NBC News
08-04-2025
- Entertainment
- NBC News
Anita Rachvelishvili sues Metropolitan Opera in New York over dismissal after giving birth
Mezzo-soprano Anita Rachvelishvili sued the Metropolitan Opera and her union, alleging the company unlawfully terminated her contracts because of a vocal issue that developed after she gave birth. She also accused the union of failing to pursue a grievance against the company. In a complaint filed March 27 in U.S. District Court in Manhattan, the 40-year-old singer from the European nation of Georgia said the Met owed her more than $400,000 from canceled agreements to appear in Verdi's 'Aida' and 'Don Carlo,' Bizet's 'Carmen' and Ponchielli's 'La Gioconda' from 2022 through January 2025. She made her Met debut in 2011 and has sung about 60 performances with the company. Rachvelishvili said in the lawsuit that she 'was temporarily limited in her very highest vocal range as a result of giving birth,' but has since recovered. She said the Met told her agent on Jan. 28, 2023, that it was canceling 'future engagements due to an alleged deterioration of vocal quality.' Rachvelishvili's lawsuit also said the American Guild of Musical Artists told her lawyer it would not pursue a grievance or seek arbitration over an alleged breach of contract. In the lawsuit, first reported by the website Slipped Disc, the singer said the Met violated the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act and restrictions involving pregnancy discrimination under the New York Human Rights Law. She said the Met and AGMA violated their collective bargaining agreement and that the company breached her individual contracts. 'It is important to note that the `pay or play' provision of the AGMA agreement required the Met to pay out her contracts regardless of whether or not the company ultimately used her,' said Len Egert, Rachvelishvili's attorney. 'She went on to sing leading roles in Berlin and Athens, as well as other major venues, with much success during the same period as the cancelled Met performances.' U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian scheduled a pretrial conference for July 1.
Yahoo
07-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Anita Rachvelishvili sues the Metropolitan Opera over her dismissal after giving birth
Mezzo-soprano Anita Rachvelishvili sued the Metropolitan Opera and her union, alleging the company unlawfully terminated her contracts because of a vocal issue that developed after she gave birth. She also accused the union of failing to pursue a grievance against the company. In a complaint filed March 27 in U.S. District Court in Manhattan, the 40-year-old singer from the European nation of Georgia said the Met owed her more than $400,000 from canceled agreements to appear in Verdi's 'Aida' and 'Don Carlo,' Bizet's 'Carmen' and Ponchielli's 'La Gioconda' from 2022 through January 2025. She made her Met debut in 2011 and has sung about 60 performances with the company. Rachvelishvili said in the lawsuit that she "was temporarily limited in her very highest vocal range as a result of giving birth,' but has since recovered. She said the Met told her agent on Jan. 28, 2023, that it was canceling 'future engagements due to an alleged deterioration of vocal quality.' Rachvelishvili's lawsuit also said the American Guild of Musical Artists told her lawyer it would not pursue a grievance or seek arbitration over an alleged breach of contract. In the lawsuit, first reported by the website Slipped Disc, the singer said the Met violated the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act and restrictions involving pregnancy discrimination under the New York Human Rights Law. She said the Met and AGMA violated their collective bargaining agreement and that the company breached her individual contracts. 'It is important to note that the 'pay or play' provision of the AGMA agreement required the Met to pay out her contracts regardless of whether or not the company ultimately used her," said Len Egert, Rachvelishvili's attorney. 'She went on to sing leading roles in Berlin and Athens, as well as other major venues, with much success during the same period as the cancelled Met performances.' U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian scheduled a pretrial conference for July 1. The Met declined to comment, citing the litigation. The AGMA did not immediately respond for a request for comment.
Associated Press
07-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Associated Press
Anita Rachvelishvili sues the Metropolitan Opera over her dismissal after giving birth
Mezzo-soprano Anita Rachvelishvili sued the Metropolitan Opera and her union, alleging the company unlawfully terminated her contracts because of a vocal issue that developed after she gave birth. She also accused the union of failing to pursue a grievance against the company. In a complaint filed March 27 in U.S. District Court in Manhattan, the 40-year-old singer from the European nation of Georgia said the Met owed her more than $400,000 from canceled agreements to appear in Verdi's 'Aida' and 'Don Carlo,' Bizet's 'Carmen' and Ponchielli's 'La Gioconda' from 2022 through January 2025. She made her Met debut in 2011 and has sung about 60 performances with the company. Rachvelishvili said in the lawsuit that she 'was temporarily limited in her very highest vocal range as a result of giving birth,' but has since recovered. She said the Met told her agent on Jan. 28, 2023, that it was canceling 'future engagements due to an alleged deterioration of vocal quality.' Rachvelishvili's lawsuit also said the American Guild of Musical Artists told her lawyer it would not pursue a grievance or seek arbitration over an alleged breach of contract. In the lawsuit, first reported by the website Slipped Disc, the singer said the Met violated the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act and restrictions involving pregnancy discrimination under the New York Human Rights Law. She said the Met and AGMA violated their collective bargaining agreement and that the company breached her individual contracts. 'It is important to note that the 'pay or play' provision of the AGMA agreement required the Met to pay out her contracts regardless of whether or not the company ultimately used her,' said Len Egert, Rachvelishvili's attorney. 'She went on to sing leading roles in Berlin and Athens, as well as other major venues, with much success during the same period as the cancelled Met performances.' U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian scheduled a pretrial conference for July 1.
The Independent
05-02-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Paul Plishka, whose Metropolitan Opera career spanned 51 years, dies at age 83
Paul Plishka, a powerful bass with a ready smile and hearty laugh who sang 1,672 performances at the Metropolitan Opera over 51 years, has died. He was 83. Plishka died Monday at a hospice in Wilmington, North Carolina, his wife, Sharon Thomas, said Wednesday. His Met career spanned generations, from a debut as the Monk alongside Renata Tebaldi, Sherrill Milnes and Rosalind Elias in Ponchielli's 'La Gioconda' on Sept. 21, 1967, to his final appearance in Puccini's 'La Bohème' on March 10, 2018. Plishka recalled his debut during a 2012 interview with The Associated Press. 'These were idols. They were all gods for me,' he said. 'The thing I remember is my costume. I remember under my arms, I was so nervous the perspiration came flowing out like a fire hydrant.' He sang 88 roles at the Met, and his performance total ranks ninth in the company's history. While many were as a comprimario, a supporting part surrounding the stars, he sang all three bass roles in Mussorgsky's 'Boris Godunov,' Philip II in Verdi's 'Don Carlo' and for his 25th anniversary with the company the title role in Verdi's ''Falstaff.' 'As great as 'Don Carlo' was, the 'Falstaff' really leaves everything in the dust because of the personality of the character and the music. For me, that was the top of the hill,' he said. 'I love what I've done over the years. I sort of jokingly say it beats working for a living.' Born Aug. 28, 1941, Plishka grew up in Old Forge, Pennsylvania, and moved with his family to Paterson, New Jersey,. when he was 16. He attended Eastside High School and was directed toward opera by a teacher after he performed Jud Fry in 'Oklahoma!' Plishka majored in music at Montclair State College and made his opera debut at the Paterson Lyric Opera Theater. After singing with the Met's national touring company, he debuted in that 1967 performance. In 1971, he was the Sacristan in Puccini's 'Tosca' on the night conductor James Levine made his Met debut. Plishka said that during rehearsals for those 1971 performances, baritone Peter Glossop pointed to the inexperienced singer and said sarcastically: 'That's a Sacristan?' By 2012, Plishka said a colleague praised him in rehearsal for making the small role memorable, saying 'Now that's a Sacristan!' 'It only took 40 years to grow into the part,' Plishka said with a laugh. He sang with other companies, most notably Milan's Teatro alla Scala, London's Royal Opera and the New York City Opera, and sang the Grand Inquisitor in 'Don Carlo' at the 1988 Salzburg Festival. But the vast majority of his career was at the Met. He announced his retirement in 2012, but the Met persuaded him to return for 30 additional performances as the landlord Benoit and Musetta's admirer Alcindoro in 'La Bohème' from 2016 to 2018. Plishka's first wife, the former Judith Colgan, died in 2004, and they had three sons who all predeceased him: Paul Jr., Jeffrey and Nikolai. Jeffrey was charged in 2009 in Wayne County, Pennsylvania, with the 1991 killing of a 24-year-old camp counselor near a Poconos waterfall. He was acquitted the following year. In 1984, Plishka's 33-year-old brother, Dr. Peter Plishka, was found dead in his Bronx apartment from what police said appeared to be a self-inflicted stab wound. Plishka married Thomas, a Met staff stage director, on an off day at the opera house in 2005. Thomas said that in retirement he became an avid photographer of birds.
Yahoo
05-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Paul Plishka, whose Metropolitan Opera career spanned 51 years, dies at age 83
Paul Plishka, a powerful bass with a ready smile and hearty laugh who sang 1,672 performances at the Metropolitan Opera over 51 years, has died. He was 83. Plishka died Monday at a hospice in Wilmington, North Carolina, his wife, Sharon Thomas, said Wednesday. His Met career spanned generations, from a debut as the Monk alongside Renata Tebaldi, Sherrill Milnes and Rosalind Elias in Ponchielli's 'La Gioconda' on Sept. 21, 1967, to his final appearance in Puccini's 'La Bohème' on March 10, 2018. See for yourself — The Yodel is the go-to source for daily news, entertainment and feel-good stories. By signing up, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy. Plishka recalled his debut during a 2012 interview with The Associated Press. 'These were idols. They were all gods for me,' he said. 'The thing I remember is my costume. I remember under my arms, I was so nervous the perspiration came flowing out like a fire hydrant.' He sang 88 roles at the Met, and his performance total ranks ninth in the company's history. While many were as a comprimario, a supporting part surrounding the stars, he sang all three bass roles in Mussorgsky's 'Boris Godunov,' Philip II in Verdi's 'Don Carlo' and for his 25th anniversary with the company the title role in Verdi's ''Falstaff.' 'As great as 'Don Carlo' was, the 'Falstaff' really leaves everything in the dust because of the personality of the character and the music. For me, that was the top of the hill,' he said. 'I love what I've done over the years. I sort of jokingly say it beats working for a living.' Born Aug. 28, 1941, Plishka grew up in Old Forge, Pennsylvania, and moved with his family to Paterson, New Jersey,. when he was 16. He attended Eastside High School and was directed toward opera by a teacher after he performed Jud Fry in 'Oklahoma!' Plishka majored in music at Montclair State College and made his opera debut at the Paterson Lyric Opera Theater. After singing with the Met's national touring company, he debuted in that 1967 performance. In 1971, he was the Sacristan in Puccini's 'Tosca' on the night conductor James Levine made his Met debut. Plishka said that during rehearsals for those 1971 performances, baritone Peter Glossop pointed to the inexperienced singer and said sarcastically: 'That's a Sacristan?' By 2012, Plishka said a colleague praised him in rehearsal for making the small role memorable, saying 'Now that's a Sacristan!' 'It only took 40 years to grow into the part,' Plishka said with a laugh. He sang with other companies, most notably Milan's Teatro alla Scala, London's Royal Opera and the New York City Opera, and sang the Grand Inquisitor in 'Don Carlo' at the 1988 Salzburg Festival. But the vast majority of his career was at the Met. He announced his retirement in 2012, but the Met persuaded him to return for 30 additional performances as the landlord Benoit and Musetta's admirer Alcindoro in 'La Bohème' from 2016 to 2018. Plishka's first wife, the former Judith Colgan, died in 2004, and they had three sons who all predeceased him: Paul Jr., Jeffrey and Nikolai. Jeffrey was charged in 2009 in Wayne County, Pennsylvania, with the 1991 killing of a 24-year-old camp counselor near a Poconos waterfall. He was acquitted the following year. In 1984, Plishka's 33-year-old brother, Dr. Peter Plishka, was found dead in his Bronx apartment from what police said appeared to be a self-inflicted stab wound. Plishka married Thomas, a Met staff stage director, on an off day at the opera house in 2005. Thomas said that in retirement he became an avid photographer of birds.
