New York, NY (Top40 Charts/ Fathom Events) Beginning Wednesday, June 18, the Metropolitan Opera and Fathom Events will once again present Summer HD Encores, a series of choice encore performances from the groundbreaking Live in HD series of cinema presentations, in more than 400 U.S. cinemas nationwide through Fathom's
Digital Broadcast Network. This summer's Encore series offers repeats of four popular Live in HD events, including Verdi's "Rigoletto" (June 18), Puccini's "
La Rondine" (June 25), Verdi's "Otello" (July 9), and the Baroque pastiche "The Enchanted Island" (July 16).
Tickets for The Met: Live in HD Summer 2014 Encores, shown in cinemas Wednesday evenings at 7:00 p.m. in all time zones, are available at www.FathomEvents.com or at participating theater box offices.
This will be the sixth series of Summer HD Encores, following a successful eighth season of The Met: Live in HD series which featured 10 live operas including four new productions.
"We're ready to heat up cinemas again this summer with the return of the Encore series, featuring four outstanding opera performances," said Shelly Maxwell, executive vice president of Fathom Events. "These are must-see events for anyone who experienced - or had to miss - any of these performances the first time around."
The Met: Live in HD Summer 2014 Encores Schedule:
Rigoletto - Wednesday, June 18 (originally transmitted live on February 16, 2013)
Michael Mayer's acclaimed production, the talk of the opera world when it premiered in 2013, sets the action of Verdi's masterpiece in 1960s Las Vegas—a neon-lit world ruled by money and ruthless, powerful men. In this bold new vision (featured on 60 Minutes), Piotr Beczala is the Duke, a popular entertainer and casino owner. Željko Lučić sings Rigoletto, a comedian and the Duke's sidekick, and Diana Damrau is Rigoletto's innocent daughter, Gilda. When she is seduced by the Duke, Rigoletto sets out on a tragic course of murderous revenge.
La Rondine - Wednesday, June 25 (originally transmitted live on January 21, 2009)
Puccini's achingly beautiful score conveys the plight of Magda (the "swallow" of the title), who unexpectedly finds true love with the handsome young Ruggero. But their idyllic life comes to a premature end as she is haunted by the fear that her checkered past will ruin his future. Opera stars
Angela Gheorghiu and Roberto Alagna portray Puccini's star-crossed lovers. Nicolas Joël's production features elegant and sophisticated art-deco sets that contribute to the dazzling stage picture.
Otello - Wednesday, July 9 (originally transmitted live on October 27, 2012)
In Verdi's retelling of Shakespeare's towering tragedy, Renée Fleming gives a captivating performance as the innocent Desdemona, a role long considered one of her calling cards. As the title hero,
Johan Botha delivers an imposing portrayal of a proud warrior brought down by jealousy, with Falk Struckmann as the villainous Iago.
The Enchanted Island - Wednesday, July 16 (originally transmitted live on January 21, 2012)
A contemporary take on the 18th-century genre of the pastiche, this delightful Baroque fantasy brings together some of the greatest arias and ensembles by Handel, Vivaldi, Rameau, Purcell, and other composers, with a new English libretto by Jeremy Sams, inspired by Shakespeare's "
The Tempest" and "A Midsummer Night's Dream." The all-star cast is headed by
David Daniels as Prospero, Joyce DiDonato as Sycorax,
Danielle de Niese as Ariel, Luca Pisaroni as Caliban and the legendary Plácido Domingo as Neptune.
William Christie conducts this dazzling world-premiere production.
