LSU Alumna Lisette Oropesa Dazzles in Met Production of I Puritani

BATON ROUGE, LA - While the world welcomed the New Year with fireworks, LSU alumna and Baton Rouge native Lisette Oropesa marked the occasion with vocal fireworks, stepping into the role of Elvira in the Metropolitan Opera’s new production of Bellini’s I Puritani. The role is a vocal high-wire act, demanding intense musical precision and raw emotional truth.

On New Year’s Eve, the Met premiered its first new staging of Bellini’s final bel canto opera in nearly 50 years. Early reaction from critics has been clear: the production is phenomenal, and the singing is the reason to be there, with Oropesa at the center.

What the Critics Are Saying

Major outlets worldwide have singled out I Puritani as a vocal showcase, consistently highlighting Oropesa and her co-star, tenor Lawrence Brownlee, as central reasons why.

• The Associated Press reported that the New Year’s Eve opening drew “rave reviews,” emphasizing Oropesa’s ability to “shimmer” through Bellini’s demanding coloratura. The piece also noted Met General Manager Peter Gelb’s comparison to the legendary Beverly Sills, citing similar artistry, intellect, and charisma.
• The Financial Times praised the evening’s musical results, writing that Oropesa “shines as Elvira with expressive vocal intricacy,” and underscored the strength of the cast and orchestral leadership.
• The Wall Street Journal framed the production as a “marvelous vocal showcase,” pointing to the excellent lineup led by Oropesa and Brownlee under the baton of Marco Armiliato.
• The Times (UK) highlighted the caliber of the Met’s cast, noting the formidable demands Bellini places on the soprano line and the strength of Oropesa’s singing within that tradition.
• Bachtrack, a leading classical music outlet, summed up the evening in a single phrase: “vocal thrills,” praising the stellar cast.
• OperaWire called the night a “bel canto masterclass,” saying Oropesa fully delivered on this long‑anticipated moment. The review highlighted her precision, stylistic command, trills, high notes, and the dramatic weight she brings as Elvira’s arc deepens.
• Seen and Heard International praised the care in her phrasing and line, noting how she turns Bellini’s vocal writing into storytelling and moves from “fleet, bubbling coloratura and luminous high notes” to a full‑voiced portrait of despair in Elvira’s breakdown.

Across outlets, a consistent theme emerges: Oropesa makes the role feel as if it were written for her.

A Perfect Role for Oropesa

Bellini’s I Puritani has long held a special place for Lisette Oropesa. It is both a career milestone and a role she has openly loved and pursued with intention. In the Associated Press feature, Oropesa said she has “been wanting to sing it forever.” She called Puritani Bellini’s best work and pushed back on the idea that bel canto is only about vocal display.

That long relationship shows in the details of her journey with Elvira. Oropesa shared with the AP that she sang Elvira’s famous mad scene in auditions earlier in her career, but did not yet feel ready to carry the full role. She cited the stamina required to sustain a long, high‑demand bel canto evening and described endurance as something that comes with age and experience.

By 2025, Puritani was no longer simply a dream role. It had become a defining one. In an LSU School of Music interview, she discussed recording I Puritani and making her production debut as Elvira in the Opéra de Paris production. She described the experience as a personal and professional milestone that proved she could meet the role’s demands at the highest level.

All of that is why this Met moment feels like a natural fit. Years of bel canto experience, careful timing, and the technical identity of Oropesa’s voice now align with an opera that rewards clarity, agility, line, and expressive control. Conductor Marco Armiliato, who led this Met production, told the Associated Press that you can hear the “sparkling” quality in her voice immediately and praised the intelligence with which she has developed her repertoire over time.

An LSU Foundation Leading to the World’s Biggest Stages

While Oropesa has performed on some of the world’s most famous stages, her roots are in Baton Rouge and at LSU. In the LSU School of Music interview, she credited the School and its faculty for the comprehensive preparation she received as a student. Her studio training was supported by broader musical skills in theory, history, languages, and ensemble work. She also noted that every young singer needs time onstage, and said LSU’s performance opportunities helped prepare her for professional expectations. She said this preparation helped her move directly from LSU to the Met in 2005, when she won the Met National Council Auditions.

That pathway is part of a longer tradition. LSU’s opera program dates back to 1930, and today the Turner-Fischer Center for Opera continues that legacy with a performance‑forward model built around coaching, stagecraft, and fully staged productions. The program’s training is designed to develop complete artists, not just great voices.

The Met connection is not Lisette’s alone. It runs through multiple LSU faculty members and alumni. Faculty member Paul Groves is also a Met National Council Auditions winner and Young Artist Program graduate who made his Met debut in 1992. Faculty members Robert Grayson, Lindsay Kate Brown, and Sandra Moon have also appeared with the company. LSU alumni have taken the stage in numerous Met productions, including, most recently, five LSU alumni appearing together in the same production of Porgy & Bess.

Catch Lisette’s Performance in Your Hometown

You don’t have to be in New York to experience Oropesa’s performance in I Puritani. The Metropolitan Opera’s award-winning Live in HD series brings productions from the Met stage in New York to cinemas around the globe. These screenings often include behind-the-scenes features and interviews.

To find a participating cinema, simply visit their website by clicking below:

FIND A MET HD PARTICIPATING CINEMA

Locally in Baton Rouge, I Puritani is scheduled for a Live in HD screening on Saturday, January 10, 2026, with an encore screening on Wednesday, January 14, 2026. Listings include Cinemark Perkins Rowe and XD. Showtimes can vary by location, so it is best to confirm details through the theater listing when booking.

---

About the LSU School of Music

The LSU School of Music, offers comprehensive undergraduate and graduate programs and serves as a cultural arts center for the state of Louisiana. Students study with acclaimed faculty and learn alongside visiting artists, gaining musical, academic, and professional preparation for careers in performance, education, research, and the creative industries.

As part of the College of Music & Dramatic Arts, the School of Music contributes to a vibrant arts community rooted in mentorship and ambitious student artistry. The School presents performances and educational experiences that enrich the campus, Baton Rouge, and audiences across the region.