Metropolitan Opera Announces Summer HD Festival 2018

By Francisco Salazar

The Metropolitan Opera’s annual Summer HD Festival is set to return for its tenth time this summer.

The series, which will begin on August 25, 2018, through Sept. 3, 2018, will present 10 recent performances from the company’s acclaimed Live in HD series of movie theater transmissions. The series will also present the Marx Brothers’ classic film, “A Night at the Opera,” which will be presented on the plaza on August 24, in association with the Film Society of Lincoln Center.

The series will feature stars such as Diana Damrau, Vittorio Grigolo, Isabel Leonard, Joyce DiDonato, Pretty Yende, Renée Fleming, Sondra Radavanovsky and Elīna Garanča, among others.

Each evening of the festival, close to 3,000 seats will be available on the plaza on a first-come, first served basis, as well as additional space for overflow crowds. No tickets are required, and there are no rain dates.

Here is a complete schedule as noted by the Metropolitan Opera’s press release:

Friday, August 24, 8:00 PM: “A Night at the Opera”

The most popular of the 13 films created by the legendary Marx Brothers, “A Night at the Opera,” endures as one of the funniest comedies to ever appear on the silver screen. “A Night at the Opera” was selected in 1993 for preservation in the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress is being co-presented by the Film Society of Lincoln Center and the Metropolitan Opera.

Saturday, August 25, 8:00 PM: “Roméo et Juliette”

Recorded from 2017, Bartlett Sher’s production stars Diana Damrau as Juliette and Vittorio Grigolo as Roméo with Gianandrea Noseda conducting

Sunday, August 26, 7:45 PM: “Norma”

Sondra Radvanovsky, Joyce DiDonato, and Joseph Calleja star in Sir David McVicar’s production, which opened last season. Carlo Rizzi conducts the opera.

 Monday, August 27, 8:00 PM: “Elektra”

Nina Stemme stars in Patrice Chéreau’s production, alongside Adrianne Pieczonka, Waltraud Meier, and Eric Owens. Esa-Pekka Salonen conducts.

Tuesday, August 28, 8:00 PM: “Il Barbiere di Siviglia”

Christopher Maltman leads Rossini’s comic masterpiece with Isabel Leonard and Lawrence Brownlee. Michele Mariotti conducts.  

Wednesday, August 29, 7:30 PM: “Lulu”

William Kentridge’s production stars Marlis Petersen in her signature role, Johan Reuter, Daniel Brenna, Paul Groves, Franz Grundheber, and Susan Graham. Lothar Koenigs conducts Berg’s landmark score.

Thursday, August 30, 7:45 PM: “Rusalka”

Sir Mark Elder conducts Dvorak’s most popular work with Kristine Opolais headlining Mary Zimmerman’s production. The HD also stars Brandon Jovanovich, Eric Owens, and Jamie Barton.

Friday, August 31, 8:00 PM: “L’Elisir d’Amore”

Pretty Yende and Matthew Polenzani headline Donizetti’s timeless comedy with Domingo Hindoyan conducting.

Saturday, September 1, 8:00 PM: “Un Ballo in Maschera”

David Alden’s 2012 production features Marcelo Álvarez, Sondra Radvanovsky, and the late Dmitri Hvorostovsky. Kathleen Kim and Stephanie Blythe also star with Fabio Luisi conducting.

Sunday, September 2, 7:15 PM: “Der Rosenkavalier”

Renée Fleming sings her final performance as the elegant princess in Robert Carsen’s production with an all-star cast that also includes  Elīna Garanča, Erin Morley, Matthew Polenzani, and Günther Groissböck.

Monday, September 3, 8:00 PM: “Madama Butterfly”

The series concludes with Puccini’s tragedy starring Kristine Opolais and Roberto Alagna. Karel Marek Chicon conducts.

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