The Metropolitan Opera Live in HD 2009 – 2010 Live Events

Arena Theater presents The Metropolitan Opera schedule for the 2009-10 Season Live in HD performances. The series will present nine live transmissions in its fifth season. Selections include several of the world's most popular operas by Puccini, Verdi and Richard Strauss. According to the Met announcement, tickets for the 2009-10 series will go on sale in September.

The schedule is as follows:

Giacomo Puccini Tosca

       · Title:  The Metropolitan Opera: Tosca
       · Date:  Saturday, October 10, 2009
       · Run Time:  3 hours 30 minutes - 2 intermissions
       · Start Time:  9:30AM
       · Rating:  NR (Suitable for all Audiences)

Karita Mattila sings the title role for the first time outside her native Finland, conducted by James Levine. Marcelo Álvarez is Cavaradossi, Juha Uusitalo sings Scarpia, and Luc Bondy, acclaimed for his imaginative theater and opera productions, directs in his Met debut.

Giuseppe Verdi Aida

       · Title:  The Metropolitan Opera: Aida
       · Date:  Saturday, October 24, 2009
       · Run Time:  4 hours / 2 intermissions
       · Start Time:  9:30AM
       · Rating:  NR (Suitable for all Audiences)

Violeta Urmana stars in the title role of the enslaved Ethiopian princess, with Dolora Zajick as her rival for the affections of Johan Botha’s Radamès. Conductor Daniele Gatti makes his long-awaited return, with Carlo Guelfi, Roberto Scandiuzzi, Stefan Kocán.

Giacomo Puccini Turandot

       · Title:  The Metropolitan Opera: Turandot 
       · Date:  Saturday, November 7, 2009
       · Run Time:  3 hours 30 minutes / 2 intermissions
       · Start Time:  9:30AM
       · Rating:  NR (Suitable for all Audiences)

Franco Zeffirelli’s breathtaking production stars Maria Guleghina in the title role of the ruthless princess. As Calàf, Marcello Giordani sings “Nessun dorma,” with Marina Poplavskaya, and Samuel Ramey. Andris Nelsons conducts.

Jacques Offenbach Les Contes d’Hoffmann

       · Title:  The Metropolitan Opera: Les Contes d’Hoffmann
       · Date:  Saturday, December 19, 2009
       · Run Time:  3 hours / 2 intermissions
       · Start Time:  9:30AM
       · Rating:  NR (Suitable for all Audiences)

Met Music Director James Levine and Tony Award winner Bartlett Sher join forces to bring Offenbach’s psychological fantasy to the Met stage. Rolando Villazón sings the tour-de-force title role, opposite Anna Netrebko, Elīna Garanča, and René Pape, with Kathleen Kim, and Ekaterina Gubanova.

Richard Strauss Der Rosenkavalier

       · Title:  The Metropolitan Opera: Der Rosenkavalier 
       · Date:  Saturday, January 9, 2010
       · Run Time:  4 hours 45 minutes / 2 intermissions
       · Start Time:  9:30AM
       · Rating:  NR (Suitable for all Audiences)

Renée Fleming and Susan Graham reign supreme in Strauss’s masterpiece, conducted by James Levine. Kristinn Sigmundsson is Baron Ochs, with Ramón Vargas as the Italian singer; with Christine Schäfer, Eric Cutler, and Thomas Allen.

Georges Bizet Carmen

       · Title:  The Metropolitan Opera: Carmen
       · Date:  Saturday, January 16, 2010
       · Run Time:  4 hours / 2 intermissions
       · Start Time:  9:30AM
       · Rating:  NR (Suitable for all Audiences)

Angela Gheorghiu makes her role debut as Bizet’s seductive gypsy in a production by Olivier Award-winner Richard Eyre. Roberto Alagna and Jonas Kaufmann share the role of the obsessed Don José, with Yannick Nézet-Séguin conducting; with Barbara Frittoli, and Mariusz Kwiecien.

Giuseppe Verdi Simon Boccanegra

       · Title:  The Metropolitan Opera: Simon Boccanegra
       · Date:  Saturday, February 6, 2010
       · Run Time:  3 hours 40 minutes / 2 intermissions
       · Start Time:  9:30AM
       · Rating:  NR (Suitable for all Audiences)

Four decades into a legendary Met career, Plácido Domingo makes history singing the baritone title role. With James Levine on the podium, Adrianne Pieczonka, Marcello Giordani, and James Morris star in Verdi’s gripping political thriller set in mid-14th century Genoa.

Ambroise Thomas Hamlet

       · Title:  The Metropolitan Opera: Hamlet
       · Date:  Saturday, March 27, 2010
       · Run Time:  3 hours 45 minutes / 1 intermission
       · Start Time:  9:30AM
       · Rating:  NR (Suitable for all Audiences)

Simon Keenlyside in the title role and Natalie Dessay as Ophelia bring their extraordinary acting and singing skills to two of Shakespeare’s most unforgettable characters. When the production by Patrice Caurier and Moshe Leiser opened at London’s Royal Opera House, Keenlyside’s portrayal was called “a revelation... thrilling throughout.” Louis Langrée conducts; with Jennifer Larmore, Toby Spence, and James Morris.

Gioachino Rossini Armida

       · Title:  The Metropolitan Opera: Armida
       · Date:  Saturday, May 1, 2010
       · Run Time:  4 hours 20 minutes / 2 intermissions
       · Start Time:  9:30AM
       · Rating:  NR (Suitable for all Audiences)

Renée Fleming stars opposite no fewer than six tenors. Mary Zimmerman directs this Met premiere Armida.  Riccardo Frizza conducts; Lawrence Brownlee, Bruce Ford, José Manuel Zapata, Barry Banks, and Kobie van Rensburg.