Tinseltown will show 8-opera series from the Metropolitan

The series is getting positive feedback from the opera community.

THE VINDICATOR

NEW YORK — The Metropolitan Opera last year began a series in which it sent live, high-definition broadcasts to 200 theaters around the globe. The series was such a hit that it is being expanded this season to a total of 600 markets — including Youngstown.

The Met’s eight-opera series will be shown live at the Tinseltown multiplex in Boardman, beginning with “Romeo et Juliette” at 1 p.m. Saturday and a taped encore showing at 3 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $22 ($20 for seniors; $15 for children) and can be bought at the Tinseltown box office. Tickets for all eight operas are on sale.

Tickets can also be bought online at metopera.org/hdlive or by calling (800) 638-6737.

Peter Gelb, the general manager of the Met, talks about the new “Live in High Definition” performance series in this interview.

Q. Why has the Met created this HD initiative?

A. Last season the Met revolutionized the way it shares performances with worldwide audiences outside the opera house. It is important because it demonstrates that the art form is forward-thinking. Now, in the 21st century, a new generation of opera lovers in Kansas City, Norway, Australia — or almost anywhere in the world — will be able to collectively enjoy opera at their hometown movie theaters, with giant screens, state-of-the-art sound, and subtitles.

Q. How are the operas chosen for the series? Are there some operas that might be more “challenging” for a general audience than others?

A. These performances represent a cross-section of our season, featuring some of our greatest stars, dynamic new productions, and beloved classic productions.

Opera, when it’s working at its best both musically and theatrically, appeals to a very broad audience of music and theater lovers. The stories are timeless, and audiences enjoy and appreciate the genius of these composers and their ability to stir emotions.

Q. How was the HD series received last year?

A. The Met made international headlines when we launched the HD transmissions. The Los Angeles Times said that we had created a new art form. Most live performances sold out, and we had to schedule encore performances in many of the locations. The Met received thousands of e-mails from fans around the world who have experienced the HD transmissions, many of whom have not seen the Met live since the company stopped touring the U.S. in 1986. We received reports from all over the world that audiences applauded after big arias and during the curtain calls of the performance, as if they were there in the opera house attending it live. Some cities held special parties before the performance as a way to create a social event around the transmissions.

Q. What effect is “Metropolitan Opera: Live in High Definition” having on regional opera?

A. Since the series began, we have received extremely positive feedback from the opera community. The innovative Met series made a vast impact on regional opera companies and the opera-going public, with at least a dozen opera companies in the United States hosting transmissions to build opera audiences in their local communities.

The Met is helping to build an audience for opera — not just in New York, but everywhere.

Q. What are the differences between a live performance and a cinematic one?

A. Nothing compares to experiencing live opera at the Met. But by filming the performances and transmitting them into movie theaters, the Met is bringing opera to more people. Cutting-edge camera work captures the spectacle of live performance, but also provides a more front-row perspective than is sometimes possible if you are seated in the auditorium. The varied camera angles, the zooms and close-ups, add new depth to the drama on stage. During intermissions, the cameras go backstage for interviews with performers and others involved in the production. We also produce behind-the-scenes features about the artists and the creative process.