Metropolitan Opera 2013 Preview: Latin American Stars Juan Diego Florez, Ramon Vargas, Erwin Schrott to Perform This January and February

During the months of January and February, the Metropolitan Opera will welcome three major Latino opera stars to their stage. Among them are Mexican Ramon Vargas, Peruvian Juan Diego Florez and Uruguayan Erwin Schrott. 

First up is superstar Juan Diego Florez who returns to the Met in his acclaimed role in "Le Comte Ory." The tenor premiered the role and opera at the Met in 2011 and received rave reviews. Critics called his performance "effective, seductive and naughty." "Le Comte Ory" is an opera by Rossini and follows an womanizing Count in his attempts to seduce Countess Adele. The Peruvian tenor will perform alongside Karine Deshayes and Pretty Yende. American baritone Nathan Gunn will also join the cast. Florez has had a successful run at the notable house in a number of Rossini roles. Florez also scored a major hit in the spring of 2012 with his turn as Nemorini in Donizetti's "L'Elisir D'Amore." 

Uruguayan bass-baritone Erwin Schrott will return to the Met after a successful run as Leoporello in "Don Giovanni" last fall. The bass-baritone will make his Met role debut as Dulcamara in "L'Elisir d'Amore." The performances will also mark Schrott's first appearance on the Met stage with his real life partner Anna Netrebko (pictured); the two have a three-year old son named Thiago. After the four performances, Schrott will perform from his latest album RojoTango at 54 Below. The concert will feature tango and Latin American songs.

Ramon Vargas is the last major Latin American star to grace the Met stage in its first two months. Vargas will star in the title role of Verdi's "Don Carlo" in a Met production by Nicholas Hytner. "Don Carlo" follows the conflicts in the life of Carlos, Prince of Asturias, after his formerly betrothed Elisabeth of Valois is married to his father Philip II of Spain as part of the peace treaty. The Mexican tenor last performed at the Met as Don Ottavio in last year's new production of "Don Giovanni" and was featured as part of the Met's successful Live in HD Broadcasts. He has been a major star at the Met since his debut in 1992 as Edgardo in Donizetti's "Lucia." 

Before Vargas comes to the Met, he will perform in a recital of solo songs that include works by Tchaikovsky, Verdi and Donizetti in Venna on Jan. 15.

"Le Comte Ory" opens Jan. 17, L'Elisir D'amore opens Jan. 30 and "Don Carlo" opens on Feb. 22. For more information visit the Metropolitan Opera website.