MOVIES: Special screenings: High C’s cinema
What’s opera, doc? A new season of the Metropolitan Opera, coming soon to a theater near you.
The third season of “The Met: Live in HD” kicks off Sept. 22 with an opening-night gala starring Renée Fleming, featuring Act II of Verdi’s “La Traviata,” Act III of Massenet’s “Manon” and the final scene of Richard Strauss’ one-act “Capriccio.”
The series continues Oct. 11 with a 10 a.m. performance of Strauss’ “Salome,” featuring soprano Karita Mattila in the title role.
Other season highlights include the Met premiere of “Doctor Atomic,” new productions of “The Damnation of Faust,” “La Rondine” and “Thais.”
Except for the opening-night gala, each live Saturday matinee will be followed by an encore presentation on the second Wednesday after the live performance.
More than 850 theaters in 30 countries around the world (including more than 440 movie theaters and performance arts centers in the United States) are participating in the Met’s “Live in HD” series this season, which expands from eight to 11 performances.
Locally, opera fans can catch the Met performances at Century’s Orleans, Sam’s Town, Santa Fe and South Point locations and Regal’s Colonnade and Village Square multiplexes. (Rave’s Town Square features opera performances from La Scala and the San Francisco Opera.)
Tickets to the Met series are available online at www.FathomEvents.com; prices vary by location.
For more information on the series, visit www.metopera.org/hd.
Here’s the complete season schedule:
Monday, Sept. 22, Opening Night Gala — 7 p.m. (tape delayed)
Fully staged performances of scenes from three different operas: Act II of Verdi’s "La Traviata," Act III of Massenet’s "Manon" and the final scene from Richard Strauss’ one-act "Capriccio." Soprano Renée Fleming stars, with Ramón Vargas and baritones Thomas Hampson and Dwayne Croft. Met Music Director James Levine, Marco Armiliato and Patrick Summers conduct.
Saturday, Oct. 11, “Salome” — 10 a.m.
Soprano Karita Mattila stars as Strauss’ “Salome,” with baritone Juha Uusitalo. Mikko Franck conducts.
Saturday, Nov. 8, “Doctor Atomic” — 10 a.m.
Penny Woolcock directs the Metropolitan Opera premiere of John Adams’s “Doctor Atomic,” with Gerald Finley as Dr. J. Robert Oppenheimer and Sasha Cooke as his wife, Kitty. Alan Gilbert conducts.
Saturday, Nov. 22, “La Damnation de Faust” — 10 a.m.
Robert Lepage directs a new production of Berlioz’s “La Damnation de Faust,” starring Marcello Giordani in the title role, with Susan Graham as Marguerite and John Relyea as Méphistophélès. James Levine conducts.
Saturday, Dec. 20, “Thais” — 9 a.m.
Renée Fleming stars in the title role of Massenet’s “Thais,” with Thomas Hampson as the monk Athanaël in John Cox’s production, which originated at Lyric Opera of Chicago. Jesús López-Cobos conducts.
Saturday, Jan. 10, “La Rondine” — 10 a.m.
Nicolas Joël directs a new production of Puccini’s "La Rondine," starring Angela Gheorghiu and Roberto Alagna. Marco Armiliato conducts.
Saturday, Jan. 24, “Orfeo ed Euridice” — 10 a.m.
Stephanie Blythe and Danielle de Niese star in Mark Morris’s production of Gluck’s "Orfeo ed Euridice." James Levine conducts.
Saturday, Feb. 7, “Lucia di Lammermoor” — 10 a.m.
Dynamic opera duo Anna Netrebko and Rolando Villazón star in Mary Zimmerman’s production of Donizetti’s “Lucia di Lammermoor.” Marco Armiliato conducts.
Saturday, March 7, “Madama Butterfly” — 10 a.m.
Cristina Gallardo-Domâs sings the title role of Puccini’s “Madama Butterfly” in Anthony Minghella’s production, which features Marcello Giordani as Pinkerton. Patrick Summers conducts.
Saturday, March 21, “La Sonnambula” — 10 a.m.
Natalie Dessay and Juan Diego Flórez star in Mary Zimmerman’s new production of Bellini’s “La Sonnambula,” conducted by Evelino Pidò.
Saturday, May 9, “La Cenerentola” — 9:30 a.m.
Elena Garanea stars in Rossini’s bel canto Cinderella story, with Lawrence Brownlee as her Prince Charming. Maurizio Benini conducts.
