Gilbert and Sullivan Society brings MET opera in high definition

WEDNESDAY, MAR. 28: The Gilbert and Sullivan Society is to show a series of Metropolitan Opera performances on film in high definition. Organizer Anne Smith filled us in with the details of the screenings.

Who is this event catered towards?

This is a perfect evening, not only for true opera lovers but for those who would like to be exposed to opera and not pay the hundreds of dollars to see it at The Met in New York City. Opera is not elitist or boring. The stories can be as pertinent today as at any time in history.

What is showing?

The next opera to be shown is Faust by Gounod — the classic retelling of the legendary man who sells his soul to the devil in return for his regained youth. It is in French with English subtitles.

The next opera on film after this is particularly exciting, as it’s a new production and so has never been performed anywhere before. The Enchanted Island is Bermuda, and the story is based on Shakespeare’s Tempest — so it is very relevant to our island.  Sung in English.

Next is Puccini’s Madama Butterfly — one of the most popular operas ever.  

Patricia Racette sings the title role in Anthony Minghella’s stunning production, a new classic of the Met. repertory, opposite Marcello Giordani. Cio-Cio-San is the trusting and innocent young geisha of the title, who disastrously falls in love with American Navy Lieutenant Pinkerton, only to be abandoned by him. 

The last opera for this season is, again, one of the most loved of all times. Verdi’s La Traviata, based on Alexandre Dumas fils’ novel La Dame aux Camélias, is one of the most haunting and tragic love stories of all time. Violetta and Alfredo love each other deeply, but his father strongly opposes the match. 

In Italian with English subtitles, Natalie Dessay wears the red dress in Willy Decker’s stunning production, in her first Violetta at the Met. 

Matthew Polenzani sings Alfredo, Dmitri Hvorostovsky is Germont, and Principal Conductor Fabio Luisi is on the podium. 

In Italian with English subtitles.

Show information:

• March 31 - Faust
• April 14 - Enchanted Island
• April 28 - Madam Butterfly
• May 12 - La Traviata

All films a showing on Saturdays at 5pm for three hours at the Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute.