Town Hall Theater to Screen 3 Met LIVE IN HD Presentations in December

The holiday season will be especially busy for opera lovers this year, as three Metropolitan Opera productions will be broadcast at Middlebury's Town Hall Theater in December.

Elina Garan?a, who wowed local audiences last year as the sexy, impetuous Carmen, returns to the screen this year in a very different role – the male character Sesto in Mozart's La Clemenza di Tito.  The "pants role" is at the heart of Mozart's tale romance, treachery and forgiveness in ancient Rome.  La Clemenza di Tito is one of Mozart's final masterpieces, seen here in an acclaimed production staged by Jean-Pierre Ponnelle.  It will be shown a few days after the live broadcast on Tuesday, December 4 at 7:00 pm.

Verdi's Un Ballo in Maschera (the Masked Ball) is considered by many to have one of his best, most thrilling scores.  Marcelo Álvarez stars as the conflicted King Gustavo, Sondra Radvanosky is Amelia, the woman he loves, and Met favorite Dimitri Hvorostovsky is Amelia's suspicious husband.   It will be shown one day after the live broadcast on Sunday, December 9 at 1:00 pm.

Verdi's biggest opera will be broadcast live a few days later.  The Met's production of Aida has a cast of hundreds and magnificent sets, and the triumphal procession is one of the most lavish moments in all of opera.  The singing is in excellent hands as well, with Robert Alagna as Radamès and soprano Olga Borodina taking the role of the proud princess Amneris.  It will be broadcast live on Saturday, December 15 at 1:00 pm.

Tickets for all Met Opera "Live in HD" broadcasts are $24/$10 students, and may be purchased at 802 382-9222,www.townhalltheater.org, at the THT Box Office (Mon-Sat, noon-5 pm) or at the door.