The Met and Fathom Events offer chances to see opera performances in HD
Beginning June 15, the Met and NCM Fathom will once again present Summer HD Encores, a series of encore performances from the groundbreaking Live in HD series, in more than 400 select movie theaters nationwide through NCM’s exclusive Digital Broadcast Network. Local theaters that will be screening the shows are Quality 16, at 3686 Jackson Road, where tickets will be $15; and Rave Motion Pictures Ann Arbor 20 IMAX, at 4100 Carpenter Road in Pittsfield Township, where tickets will be $12.50.)
This summer’s encore series offers 6 classic Live in HD events: Puccini’s "Madama Butterfly" (June 15), Donizetti’s "Don Pasquale" (June 22), Verdi’s "Simon Boccanegra" (June 29), Donizetti’s "La Fille du Régiment" (July 13), Puccini’s "Tosca" (July 20), and Verdi’s "Don Carlo" (July 27).
Tickets for The Met: Live in HD 2011 Summer Encores - shown in theaters on Wednesday evenings at 6:30 p.m. - are available at www.FathomEvents.com or at participating theater box offices. Since 2006, NCM Fathom and the Metropolitan Opera have partnered to bring classic live operatic performances to movie screens across America with The Met: Live in HD series. The first Live in HD event was seen in 56 theaters in December 2006. Fathom has since expanded its participating theater footprint, which now reaches more than 600 movie theaters in the United States. “The Summer Encores series have become a very popular entertainment choice and gives millions of opera fans the opportunity to experience the world-class productions of the Metropolitan Opera, all from the comfort of their local hometown theater,” said Dan Diamond, vice president of NCM Fathom.
Here are details about each production that's featured in the series: "Madama Butterfly" - Wednesday, June 15 Academy Award-winning film director Anthony Minghella’s critically acclaimed production of Puccini’s classic opera stars the gifted singing actress Patricia Racette in the title role. Marcello Giordani is her lover, the callous Pinkerton, and Dwayne Croft sings the role of Sharpless. Patrick Summers conducts. "Don Pasquale" - Wednesday, June 22 Superstar soprano Anna Netrebko is Norina, the irresistible and clever romantic heroine of Donizetti’s comic opera, who conspires with Dr. Malatesta (Mariusz Kwiecien) to teach a middle-aged miser (John Del Carlo) an unforgettable lesson about love and marriage. Matthew Polenzani sings the role of Ernesto, Norina’s love, and James Levine conducts one of his first-ever performances of this opera. "Simon Boccanegra" - Wednesday, June 29 Four decades into his legendary Met career, Plácido Domingo made history by singing the baritone title role of Verdi’s Simon Boccanegra, conducted by James Levine. Adrianne Pieczonka sings the role of Boccanegra’s long-lost daughter Amelia, with Marcello Giordani as her lover Gabriele Adorno and James Morris as Fiesco, Boccanegra’s nemesis. "La Fille du Regiment" - Wednesday, July 13 Natalie Dessay is the title tomboy in Donizetti’s comedy, with Juan Diego Florez as Tonio, the soldier who is willing to go to great lengths - and sing 9 high C’s - to win her love. The sparkling supporting cast includes Felicity Palmer as the Marquise of Berkenfield, Alessandro Corbelli as Sulpice, and the great stage actress Marian Seldes, in her Met debut, as the Duchess of Krakenthorp. Marco Armiliato conducts. "Tosca" - Wednesday, July 20 Karita Mattila lives for art and love as the passionate title character of Puccini’s opera. Luc Bondy’s production co-stars Marcelo Ãlvarez as the painter and revolutionary Cavaradossi and George Gagnidze as the corrupt villain Scarpia. Joseph Colaneri conducts. "Don Carlo" - Wednesday, July 27 Tony Award-winning director Nicholas Hytner made his Met debut with this new production of Verdi’s monumental grand opera. Roberto Alagna is the conflicted title character, joined by an exceptional cast that includes Marina Poplavskaya as Elisabeth de Valois, Anna Smirnova as Princess Eboli, Simon Keenlyside as Rodrigo, and Ferruccio Furlanetto as King Philip II. Yannick Nézet-Séguin conducts.
Comments
James Schindler
Sun, Jul 31, 2011 : 6:01 p.m.
Dear Fathom Events, I'm a high school humanities teacher in the Seattle area. My curriculum incorporates productions at various local theater venues. In class we study the literary/cultural background to a piece and then we attend an actual performance of the piece. For example, this year we will start with Carmen; we will read Merimee's novella, Carmen, and then attend a performance of the opera at Seattle Opera. I would like to include at least one Live from the Met HD broadcast in my curriculum this year. I would like my students to know of this valuable resource. Because my students have to pay for their tickets, I'm wondering if Fathom Events offers group student discount rates. Ideally the group rate would be less than $15.00, $10.00 would be better. Could you send me information about this or how I might go about arranging for a discount?