Great Performances at the Met - Season 4 (2009)

Season 4 opens with Luc Bondy's staging of Puccini's "Tosca," starring soprano Karita Mattila as the title character, whose lover (Marcelo Álvarez) is arrested by a police chief (George Gagnidze) and threatened with death unless she gives herself to him.

A documentary about the 2007 Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, in which contestants compete for cash prizes and the opportunity to launch a major operatic career. The competition is seen through the eyes of three hopefuls, including fiery 22-year-old Michael Fabiano; 25-year-old Alek Shrader, who tries to sing nine high Cs in a difficult aria; and 30-year-old Ryan Smith, who has little formal training.

A production of Giuseppe Verdi's "Aida," about an enslaved Ethiopian princess (Violeta Urmana) in ancient Egypt who serves the pharaoh's daughter (Dolora Zajick) while competing with her mistress for the affections of a military commander (Johan Botha). Ramfis: Roberto Scandiuzzi. King: Stephan Kocan.

The Puccini opera "Turandot," about a ruthless Chinese princess (Maria Guleghina) who falls for an unknown prince (Marcello Giordani).

A production of Jacques Offenbach's opera "Les Contes d'Hoffmann," about the life, loves and psychological manifestations of the German Romantic author E.T.A. Hoffmann (Joseph Calleja). Antonia/Stella: Anna Netrebko. Olympia: Kathleen Kim. Giulietta: Ekaterina Gubanova.

Renée Fleming and Susan Graham star in Richard Strauss' comic "Der Rosenkavalier" as the middle-aged Marschallin and her young lover, Octavian, who falls for a woman (Miah Persson) closer to his age, but who's engaged to Marschallin's cousin (Kristinn Sigmundsson).

A production of Bizet's "Carmen," starring Elina Garanca in the title role, a Gypsy girl; and Roberto Alagna as the soldier who becomes obsessed with her. Host: Renee Fleming.

A production of Verdi's "Simon Boccanegra," starring Placido Domingo as a pirate-turned-chief magistrate. Soprano Adrianne Pieczonka costars as Amelia Grimaldi, Boccanegra's long-lost daughter.

The Ambroise Thomas opera "Hamlet," based on the Shakespeare play, starring baritone Simon Keenlyside as the prince and soprano Marlis Petersen as Ophélie. Mezzo-soprano Jennifer Larmore is Hamlet's mother, Gertrude, and James Morris is Claudius, the king who murdered Hamlet's father in order to advance to the throne.

Renée Fleming stars in the title role of Rossini's "Armida" as the niece of the Damascus king during the Crusades, a sorceress who falls for a Christian soldier (Lawrence Brownlee).