Raven's Cry Theatre will be the first independent theatre in North America to screen live, via satellite and in high definition, productions from the Metropolitan Opera's current season.
These screenings will take place on Saturday mornings about once a month.
"The Met has launched an array of new initiatives designed to broaden the public appeal of opera," said Peter Gelb, the Met's general manager in a news release. In addition to 10 cameras providing fascinating close-ups, the Met broadcasts will include interview features and behind-the-scenes glimpses. "The audience will see their favourite opera singers bigger than they'd see them, even from a front row seat. It's the next best thing to being there," says Gelb.
The first showing at the Raven's Cry will be this Saturday with Mozart's The Magic Flute, an abridged, family- friendly version in English. The Raven's Cry expects to be "satellite ready" by this date, but please confirm just prior to show time.Feb. 24 will show Tchaikovsky's gorgeous and lyrical Eugene Onegin, with Russian baritone Dmitri Hvorostovsky in the title role, soprano Renee Fleming as Tatiana and Ramon Vargas as Lenski. March 24 will bring Rossini's charming The Barber of Seville, with Juan Diego Florez, Joyce DiDonato, Peter Mattei, John Relyea and John Del Carlo.
April 28 is Puccini's triple bill of one-act operas, Il Trittico, with Maria Guleghina, Salvatore Licitra, Juan Pons, Barbara Frittoli and Stephanie Blyth.
All live feed showtimes are Saturday mornings at 10:30 a.m. Tickets prices are $10, available in advance at the theatre, except for The Magic Flute, which will be on a first-come, first-served basis.
