NEW YORK, NY. & CENTENNIAL, CO. (Top40 Charts/
National CineMedia) - The Metropolitan Opera's critically-acclaimed series of operas transmitted live, in high-definition, into movie theaters around the world is anticipated to reach between 300 and 400 movie theaters and performing arts center locations in the United States - nearly triple the number of venues from last season - through a renewed deal with
National CineMedia (NCM). 'The Metropolitan Opera: Live in HD' series will be expanding in 2007-08 from six to eight live opera transmissions, beginning on December 15, 2007, with Gounod's
Romeo et Juliette, starring Anna Netrebko and Rolando Villazon.
Through this agreement, NCM's FATHOM entertainment division will present the Met's HD series in theater locations across the country, including participating AMC Entertainment Inc., Cinemark USA Inc., Georgia Theater Company, National Amusements and Regal Entertainment Group movie theaters. Other new affiliate locations will soon be added to NCM's digital network - the largest live, digital in-theater network in North America - allowing additional movie theaters and performing arts centers across the country to present the Met series and other in-theater events.
'We are very pleased by the enthusiastic reception to the Met's HD series, which has increased the opportunity for audiences around the world to experience the art form in a new way,' said Met General Manager Peter Gelb. 'Our new agreement with NCM will bring the excitement of live opera to many more people in more cities nationwide.'
'We are delighted by the success of this series and are excited to be expanding our exclusive U.S. partnership with the Met,' said Tom Galley, NCM's executive vice president and chief operations and technology officer. 'The Met's 'Live in HD' series is a perfect example of how high-quality, alternative content can be successfully distributed in movie theaters, bringing premium entertainment to patrons in communities large and small.'
For the first time this season, Met Opera members can take advantage of an advance ticket sale offering for all 'Metropolitan Opera: Live in High Definition' in-theater events at the majority of participating locations in the U.S. Advance ticketing for the 2007-08 season is subject to availability and begins on Friday, October 19, exclusively for Met Opera members at the $125 level or above. Ticket sales to the general public in the U.S. begin Friday, November 9. Tickets in the U.S. are $22 for adults, $20 for seniors, and $15 for children. For information on tickets and membership, visit www.metopera.org/hd or call 1-800-Met-Opera (1-800-638-6737).
The Met's inaugural series of High-Definition transmissions in the 2006-07 season captured international headlines, reaching 325,000 audience members around the world who attended performances relayed into movie theaters worldwide-including both live and encore presentations. The series launched in December 2006 and, by the final opera event in May of 2007, NCM had expanded the number of presenting theaters in the U.S. to 113 locations (151 screens), reaching a total U.S. audience of approximately 200,000 for the entire series. Of the groundbreaking series, The Los Angeles Times wrote: 'The Met's experiment of merging film with live performances has created a new art form. This venture may be the most significant development in opera since the supertitle.'
The Met's in-theater event schedule in 2007-08 includes: Gounod's Romeo et Juliette (December 15), starring Anna Netrebko and Rolando Villazon and conducted by Placido Domingo; Humperdinck's Hansel and Gretel (January 1), starring Christine Schafer and Alice Coote in a new English-language production by Richard Jones, conducted by Vladimir Jurowski; Verdi's Macbeth (January 12) starring Lado Ataneli in a new production directed by Adrian Noble; Puccini's Manon Lescaut (February 16), starring Karita Mattila and Marcello Giordani; Britten's Peter Grimes (March 15), starring Anthony Dean Griffey and Patricia Racette in a new production directed by John Doyle and conducted by Donald Runnicles; Wagner's Tristan und Isolde (March 22), starring Deborah Voigt and Ben Heppner; Puccini's La Boheme (April 5), starring Angela Gheorghiu and Ramon Vargas in Franco Zeffirelli's iconic production conducted by Nicola Luisotti; and Donizetti's La Fille du Regiment (April 26), starring Natalie Dessay and Juan Diego Florez in a new production directed by Laurent Pelly and conducted by Marco Armiliato. Met Music Director James Levine conducts Macbeth, Manon Lescaut, and Tristan und Isolde.
