De Waart jets to the Met in October

Edo de Waart, music director of the Milwaukee Symphony, will conduct R. Strauss’ “Der Rosenkavalier” at the Metropolitan Opera, New York, Oct. 13, 16 and 19. The company called upon de Waart to fill in for Met music director James Levine, who will undergo surgery to repair a herniated disc. Levine is expected to return to the Met podium Dec. 3. This “Rosenkavalier” cast includes Susan Graham and Renee Fleming, two of the biggest stars in opera.

The New York company will send a private jet for de Waart, who will conduct MSO concerts as scheduled on Oct. 15 (Classical Connections), 16, 17 and 18. In a stroke of luck, that Oct. 16 MSO concert happens to be a Friday matinee with an 11:15 a.m. start time. That will give de Waart time to jet to New York in time for the Friday-night curtain.