Ridgefield to Screen the Met's LA FANCIULLA DEL WEST

The Metropolitan Opera's production of Puccini's La Fanciulla del West comes to the big screen in HD at The Ridgefield Playhouse on Sunday, October 28 at 12pm (an encore presentation). Soprano Eva-Maria Westbroek sings Puccini's gun-slinging heroine in this romantic epic of the Wild West and tenor Jonas Kaufmann plays the outlaw she loves. Baritone Željko Lucic is the vigilante sheriff, Jack Rance, and Marco Armiliato conducts. This screening is part of the Atria Senior Living Classical Series with support from The Ridgefield Press and Whistle Stop Bakery, underwritten by Lori & John Berisford, Jeanne Cook, Liz & Steven Goldstone and Sabina & Walter Slavin.

Puccini's "American" opera, based on David Belasco's play The Girl of the Golden West, La Fanciulla del West had its glamorous and highly publicized world premiere at the Metropolitan Opera in 1910, with the composer in the audience. The drama is set during the California Gold Rush, and the girl of the title is one of Puccini's most appealing heroines-a strong, independent woman determined to win the man she loves. For the libretto of Fanciulla, Puccini's publisher recommended the services of Carlo Zangarini (1874-1943), whose mother came from Colorado and who was fluent in English. Puccini found much of Zangarini's work "truly beautiful" but was frustrated by how slowly he worked, so the author and journalist Guelfo Civinini (1873-1954) was brought in to collaborate. Although it fell out of favor with audiences for a few decades following its original success, Fanciulla has rebounded in popularity in recent years and is now counted among Puccini's best works.

Giacomo Puccini (1858-1924) was immensely popular in his own lifetime, and his mature works remain staples in the repertory of most of the world's opera companies. His operas are celebrated for their mastery of detail, sensitivity to everyday subjects, copious melody, and economy of expression.

The Metropolitan Opera is a vibrant home for the most creative and talented singers, conductors, composers, musicians, stage directors, designers, visual artists, choreographers, and dancers from around the world. The Ridgefield Playhouse offers free tickets to The Metropolitan Opera in HD series to students 18 and younger as a way for parents to introduce their children to the arts. FREE tickets are also available to students 18 and younger for Live in HD screenings of The Bolshoi Ballet and National Theatre of London.

For tickets ($25 | Members & Seniors $20 | Students $15 | FREE for students 18 and under) call or visit the box office, 203-438-5795 or go online at ridgefieldplayhouse.org. The Ridgefield Playhouse is a non-profit performing arts center located at 80 East Ridge, parallel to Main Street, Ridgefield, CT.