UNC Wilmington Brings NY Metropolitan Opera: Live in HD to the Cape Fear Region
9/14/2009 1:39:12 PM
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Opera lovers in the Cape Fear region will have an extraordinary opportunity to experience a full season of live performances by the New York Metropolitan Opera this year as the University of North Carolina Wilmington presents The Met: Live in HD at Lumina Theater on the UNCW campus.
Sponsored by UNCW's Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) and the Department of Music, the season will include a total of nine live performances beginning Saturday, Oct. 10 with Puccini's Tosca. This is the Metropolitan Opera's fourth season offering the Peabody Award-winning series, which features live high definition transmissions to big screens throughout the United States and Canada. Until now, Wilmington area opera fans have had to travel to Raleigh or Myrtle Beach to view these live programs. UNCW is the first university in North Carolina to provide this opportunity to the community.
Prior to the start of the 2009-10 live season, UNCW will present a special preview of Met Opera: Live in HD by showing a performance from last season of Zefirelli's La Boheme Saturday, Sept. 26 at 1 p.m. in Lumina Theater. Tickets to this performance are $10 and advance ticket purchase is recommended.
The 2009-10 season schedule is as follows. All performances are at 1 p.m. unless otherwise noted.
• Saturday, Oct. 10: Tosca by Puccini, featuring Karita Mattila as Tosca
• Sunday, Oct. 25: Aida by Verdi, featuring Violeta Urmana as Aida
• Saturday, Nov. 7: Turandot by Puccini, featuring Maria Guleghina in the title role
• Saturday, Dec. 19: Les Contes d'Hoffman by Offenbach, directed by Tony Award winner Bartlett Sher and featuring Joseph Calleja in the title role
• Saturday, Jan 9: Der Rosenkavalier by Strauss, featuring Renee Fleming and Susan Graham
• Saturday, Jan. 16: Carmen by Bizet, featuring Angela Gheorghiu as Carmen
• Saturday, Feb. 6: Simon Boccanegra by Verdi, featuring legendary tenor Placido Domingo in the title role
• Tuesday, March 30 at 7 p.m.: Hamlet by Thomas, featuring Natalie Dessay and Simon Keenlyside
• Saturday, May 1: Armida by Rossini, featuring Renee Fleming in the title role and directed by Tony Award winner Mary Zimmerman
Individual tickets for each Live in HD performance are $20 for Osher Lifelong Learning Institute members, $25 for non-members and $15 for students. Season tickets are $180 for OLLI members and $225 for non-members.
OLLI Lifelong Learner memberships are $20 per semester or $40 for the entire academic year. Membership benefits include discounts on all programs, invitations to members-only programs, Randall Library privileges and updates on special UNCW events.
In addition to the broadcasts of opera performances, UNCW is offering a special continuing studies class called Preview Opera Live in HD with Department of Music faculty member Nancy King. This four-week course will preview four of the Live in HD performances, Tosca, Aida, Turandot and Les Contes d'Hoffmann, the Thursday evening prior to the Saturday performance. King will provide a context for understanding each of the pieces and stimulating discussion for opera aficionados and new fans alike. Classes are Thursdays, Oct. 8 and 22, Nov. 5 and Dec. 17 from 6-7:30 p.m. The series is $39 for OLLI members and $59 for non-members.
For more information about Met Opera: Live in HD go to www.uncw.edu/metopera. Call 910.962.3195 for individual or season tickets, and to purchase an OLLI membership.
Media contact:
Dana Fischetti, media relations manager, 910.962.7259 or fischettid@uncw.edu
Downloadable Photos
Karita Mattila as Tosca
Puccini's Turandot
Angela Gheorghiu as Carmen
Renee Fleming at Armida
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