You don’t have to go to New York City to experience The Metropolitan Opera in all its glory. The Met: Live in HD is simultaneously broadcast around the world at Cineplex theatres. The Met’s 2010-2011 season has ended, but encore presentations will take place this summer.
Highlights of the 2010-2011 season included:
Das Rheingold on October 9th, 2010
Boris Godunov on 0ctober 23rd, 2010
Don Pasquale on November 13th, 2010
Don Carlo on December 11th, 2010
La Fanciulla del West on January 8th, 2011
Nixon in China on February 12th, 2011
Iphigénie en Tauride on February 26th, 2011
Lucia di Lammermoor on March 19th, 2011
Le Comte Ory on April 9th, 2011
Capriccio on April 23rd, 2011
Il Trovatore on April 30th, 2011
Die Walküre on May 14th, 2011
Tickets are around $25, and the performances usually last four hours. I know that seems pretty long to be sat in a cinema chair, but there’s two intermissions of 15mins to stretch your legs, refill your popcorn, and use the facilities. The best part is, with the simul-cast, cameras take you back stage right after the curtains close. There are interviews with the cast and conductor during the intermissions. And, when the shot is on the NYC audience, and you can hear them quietly shuffling their program guides, or covering their coughs, it’s like you’re right there with them.
I saw Nixon In China at the Queensway Cineplex. Considered one of the best modern operas… it was very weird, and yet very good. Based on the historic meeting of Nixon and Mao in 1972. The lyrics were taken almost verbatim from the actual events. The brainchild of Peter Sellars, and conducted by John Adams (whom I saw at the TSO conducting Electronica-Meets-Orchestra with Mason Bates, so good!). I think I shall buy the N-I-C concert on CD, and I would definitely see it again.
Looking forward to the 2011-2012 season, which includes:
Anna Bolena on October 15th, 2011
Don Giovani on October 29th, 2011
Siegfried on November 5th, 2011
Satyagraha on November 19th, 2011
Rodelinda on December 3rd, 2011
Faust on December 10th, 2011
The Enchanted Island on January 21st, 2012
Götterdämmerung on February 11th, 2012
Ernani on February 25th, 2012
Manon on April 7th, 2012
La Traviata on April 14th, 2012
SCENE® & Met Members exclusive advanced ticket sales for the 2011-12 Season begin on Friday August 19th, 2011. General ticket sales begin on Monday August 29th, 2011. I recommend you buy early because they do sell out. You can purchase tickets online at http://cineplex.com/events.