Ridgefield Playhouse Screens The Met's OTELLO Live in HD Today

Two spectacular operas from the Met are coming to The Ridgefield Playhouse as encore productions this month. Verdi's Shakespearean masterpiece Otello stars Johan Botha in the title role opposite acclaimed soprano Renée Fleming as Desdemona today, July 9. On Wednesday, July 16, Handel's The Enchanted Island showcases the talents of William Christie, David Daniels, Joyce DiDonato and Pácido Domingo. These performances start at 6 p.m. Advantages of the HD broadcasts are the interesting camera angles, behind-the-scenes tours and interviews.

In Verdi's Shakespearean masterpiece Otello, Seymon Bychkov conducts, and Elijah Moshinsky is in charge of production. It's a star-studded cast completed by Falk Struckmann and Michael Fabiano.

Fans of Baroque opera have the world's best singers, glorious music of the Baroque masters, and a story drawn from Shakespeare in The Enchanted Island. The lovers from Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream are shipwrecked on his otherworldly island of The Tempest. Inspired by the musical pastiches and masques of the 18th century, the work showcases arias and ensembles by Handel, Vivaldi, Rameau and others, and a new libretto devised and written by Jeremy Sams. Eminent conductor William Christie leads an all-star cast with David Daniels (Prospero) and Joyce DiDonato (Sycorax) as the formidable foes, Plácido Domingo as Neptune, Danielle de Niese as Ariel, and Luca Pisaroni as Caliban. Lisette Oropesa and Anthony Roth Costanzo play Miranda and Ferdinand. The dazzling production of The Enchanted Island is directed and designed by Phleim McDermott and Julian Courch (Satyagraha and the Met's 125 anniversary gala).

Bernard's (20 West Lane, Ridgefield) is offering a special $45 prix-fixe menu, or a free glass of wine with dinner, the night of these events when tickets are presented; reservations suggested. This series is underwritten by Jeanne Cook, Anita and Nicholas Donofrio, Liz and Steven Goldstone, Marilyn and Joe Kreitz, Joanne and John Patrick, Starbucks Coffee, Sabina and Walter Slavin, Taylor Zemo Foundation, The Ridgefield Press and Whistle Stop Bakery.

For tickets ($25 adults, $20 seniors/members, $15 students, $18 each for all in the series), call the box office at (203) 438-5795, or order online at ridgefieldplayhouse.org. The Ridgefield Playhouse is a not-for-profit performing arts center located at 80 East Ridge, parallel to Main Street, Ridgefield, CT.