The Met Broadcasts Roméo et Juliette Dec.15 Live in HD

The second season of Metropolitan Opera: Live in High Definition kicks off worldwide on Saturday, December 15 at 1PM (EST) with the first of the Met's eight live opera transmissions: Gounod's Roméo et Juliette, starring Anna Netrebko and Roberto Alagna, conducted by Plácido Domingo.

More than 600 venues in North America, Australia, Europe, and Japan are participating in the Met's groundbreaking series during the 2007-08 season – triple the number from last year; several independent cinemas, performing arts organizations, and universities in the U.S. will be presenting the series for the first time.  Through this significant global expansion, Metropolitan Opera: Live in High Definition is expected to reach an audience of up to 1 million for the entire series. Ticket sales to the general public begin in North America on Friday, November 9. Tickets in the United Kingdom, Denmark and the Netherlands are currently on sale.  For complete information on locations and tickets, visit www.metopera.org/hdlive or call 1-800-Met-Opera (1-800-638-6737).

Launching the new HD season on Saturday, December 15, Anna Netrebko returns from her star turn last year as Elvira in I Puritani to sing the role of the tragic heroine in Gounod's Roméo et Juliette. French tenor Roberto Alagna reprises one of his most famous portrayals. The legendary Plácido Domingo, who himself sang the role of Roméo at the Met in 1974, conducts this classic example of French grand opera. 

The 2007-08 schedule for Metropolitan Opera: Live in High Definition continues as follows:

Tuesday, January 1, 2008 1PM EST—New Year's Day Presentation

Humperdinck's Hansel and Gretel, the Met's holiday entertainment offering starring Christine Schäfer and Alice Coote in a new English-language production by Richard Jones, conducted by Vladimir Jurowski. The Brothers Grimm fairy tale, a timeless children's favorite, features a sophisticated score, and this intriguing new staging will appeal to audiences of all ages.

Saturday, January 12, 2008 1:30PM EST

Verdi's Macbeth starring Maria Guleghina and TBA, directed by Adrian Noble and conducted by Met Music Director James Levine. The composer's longstanding affinity for Shakespeare is explored in the Met's new production..

Saturday, February 16, 2008 1PM EST

Puccini's Manon Lescaut, starring Karita Mattila and Marcello Giordani, and conducted by Met Music Director James Levine. The story of the magnetic attraction between two young lovers is the perfect vehicle for this charismatic pair of singers.

Saturday, March 15, 2008 1:30PM EST

Britten's Peter Grimes, starring Anthony Dean Griffey and Patricia Racette in a new production directed by John Doyle and conducted by Donald Runnicles. A haunting theatrical journey that features what may be 20th century opera's most impressive tenor role.

Saturday, March 22, 2008 12:30PM EST

Wagner's Tristan und Isolde, starring Deborah Voigt and Ben Heppner, and conducted by Met Music Director James Levine. One of world's most celebrated Wagnerian sopranos and the leading Tristan of our time star in this much-anticipated revival at the Met.

Saturday, April 5, 2008 1:30PM EST

Puccini's La Boheme, starring Angela Gheorghiu and Ramón Vargas in a Franco Zeffirelli production conducted by Nicola Luisotti. A magnificent cast comes together for this iconic production of the Puccini favorite.

Saturday, April 26, 2008 1:30PM EST

Donizetti's La Fille du Régiment, starring Natalie Dessay and Juan Diego Flórez, directed by Laurent Pelly and conducted by Marco Armiliato. A dazzling new production that also features four-time Tony Award-winning stage legend Zoe Caldwell.