A WATCHUNG COMMUNICATIONS, INC. PUBLICATION The Westfield Leader and The Scotch Plains – Fanwood TIMES Thursday, October 7, 2010 Page 19 Metropolitan Opera’s Live HD Simulcasts Begin Fifth Season By GREG WAXBERG Alagna in the title role, conducted by Specially Written for The Westfield Leader and The Times Yannick Nézet-Séguin. WESTFIELD — This Saturday, The To commemorate the 100th anniver- Metropolitan Opera begins its fifth sea- sary of the opera’s world premiere at son of “The Met: Live in HD,” an the Met, the company is reviving Emmy- and Peabody Award-winning Giacomo Puccini’s La Fanciulla del series of Saturday matinee perfor- West this season, and it will be simul- mances simulcast live in high defini- cast on January 8 at 1 p.m. The cast tion to movie theaters around the world. includes Deborah Voigt as Minnie, with Select theaters will also show encore Nicola Luisotti conducting. presentations at 6:30 p.m. on the third John Adams conducts the Met’s pre- Wednesday after the live performances, miere production of his first opera, and PBS televises the simulcasts on Nixon in China, on February 12 at 1 “Great Performances at the Met.” p.m. In the cast are James Maddalena, These simulcasts capture onstage Janis Kelly and Kathleen Kim. action and the orchestra by using close- Susan Graham and Plácido Domingo up shots taken from many perspec- headline the cast of Christoph Willibald tives. During intermissions, the series von Gluck’s Iphigénie en Tauride on offers behind-the-scenes features, live February 26 at 1 p.m. Patrick Summers Photo Courtesy of Debbie Hoffman SHARING THE LIMELIGHT…Sara Hoffman, right, of Mountainside and Eric Nierstedt for The Westfield Leader and The Times interviews with cast and crewmembers will conduct. and short documentaries, all of which Mr. Summers will also be on the Tandria Fireall of South Carolina step out in bright lights in the big city at the OH, WE’RE HALF WAY THERE...The Kilkenny House in Cranford celebrated premiere for a private screening of their winning film, “Save Our School.” The September 17 (halfway point to St. Patrick’s Day) and its two-year anniversary offer an unprecedented look at the ele- podium for Donizetti’s Lucia di pair was among other lucky contestants competing in the Skintimate Studios “In with The Itinerants, who feature Westfield resident Chris Flynn on guitar. ments involved in staging an opera. Lammermoor on March 19 at 1 p.m. Front of and Behind the Camera” contest produced by Dreaming Tree Films. The “Our live transmissions have made Natalie Dessay sings Lucia. red carpet event reunited 18 girls at a private screening of the winning short film grand opera more accessible and popu- The Met is also presenting at Skylight West in Manhattan on September 14. Kilkenny Celebrates Two lar,” said Peter Gelb, the Met’s general Gioacchino Rossini’s comedy Le manager and the executive producer of Comte Ory for the first time this season. the live transmissions. “They have Juan Diego Flórez sings the title role, Mountainside Teen’s Short Years of Grog with Itinerants helped to make it possible for opera to joined by Joyce DiDonato and Diana By ERIC NIERSTEDT on pub highlights such as the Pogues’ continue to flourish in a difficult eco- Damrau, on April 9 at 1 p.m. Bartlett Specially Written for The Westfield Leader and The Times “If I Should Fall From Grace with nomic time.” Sher directs, and Maurizio Benini con- Film Wins Skintimate Contest CRANFORD — South Avenue East God,” which featured a pounding drum The 2010-2011 season of “The Met: ducts. By LINDA B. CONDRILLO ductions were wrapped – “Save Our in Cranford was filled with the sounds break and the a capella “Auld Tri- Live in HD” will include 12 operas, six Richard Strauss’ Capriccio returns Specially Written for the Westfield Leader and The Times Schools” and “The Locket.” Sara was of Irish music and the taste of Guinness, angle.” of which are featured in new produc- to the repertory this season, starring MOUNTAINSIDE – A on “Team S.O.S.” Both shorts were last month, as the Kilkenny House cel- There were also classic Irish favor- tions. Renée Fleming, and will be simulcast Mountainside teenager’s short film subsequently available for viewing ebrated its second anniversary. ites like “I’ll Tell Me Ma,” “Riley’s Robert Lepage’s new production of on April 23 at 1 p.m., conducted by Sir has won a national studio contest. online, and people were asked to pick The occasion also served as a launch Daughter” and the pulsing, rock-influ- Richard Wagner’s Das Rheingold, con- Andrew Davis. As previously reported in The their favorite. for a weeklong celebration, culminat- enced “Fields of Athenry” (likely in- ducted by Music Director James Levine, The following week, Mr. Levine re- Westfield Leader and The Times, 17- “Save Our Schools” was chosen as ing on September 17, the date every spired by the Dropkick Murphys’ ver- kicks off the season on Saturday at 1 turns to the podium for Verdi’s Il year-old Sara Hoffman of the winner, and on September 14, all Irish bar knows as the “Halfway to St. sion). p.m. The cast includes Bryn Terfel Trovatore on April 30 at 1 p.m. He Mountainside earned a trip to Holly- 18 contestants were reunited in New Patrick’s Day” marker. There was even a lone rock song – a singing his first Met Wotan. This is the conducts a cast including Marcelo wood after entering an essay contest York City to view a private screening Barry O’Donovan, a native Irishman surprisingly joyful “Folsom Prison first part of the Met’s new staging of the Álvarez, Dmitri Hvorostovsky, Sondra on why she wanted to be a filmmaker. of “Save Our Schools.” The Red Car- (from county Kilkenny), who moved Blues.” But none of it topped the med- entire Ring. Radvanovsky and Dolora Zajick. (See full story at goleader.com/ pet premiere was held at Skylight to Cranford from Brooklyn 10 years ley of classic “Red is the Rose,” along Two weeks later, on October 23 at 12 On May 14 at noon, the HD season 10aug12/24.pdf). West, a Midtown private event venue ago, owns the Kilkenny House. with Van Morison’s “Crazy Love” and p.m., Valery Gergiev conducts Stephen concludes with the new Robert Lepage The contest, “Smooth Moves, In offering views of the New York Sky- Aside from running the pub, Mr. “Tupelo Honey,” as well as The Band’s Wadsworth’s new production of Mod- production of Wagner’s Die Walküre, Front of and Behind the Camera,” line on the city’s largest open roof- O’Donovan has become involved in “The Weight,” with Mr. Robinson’s est Mussorgsky’s historical drama Boris conducted by Mr. Levine. Bryn Terfel was sponsored by Skintimate Stu- top. various Cranford organizations, which accordion adding soulful balance along Godunov with René Pape in the title is Wotan and Deborah Voigt adds dios and afforded 18 girls from across Skintimate, the ladies shaving have helped to raise money for breast with Mr. Bosch’s tasteful solo. role. Brünnhilde to her Wagnerian reper- the United States the opportunity to cream brand, awarded prizes, includ- cancer and local scholarship funds. Mr. After a short break for a raffle hosted On November 13 at 1 p.m., Anna toire at the Met. win a seven-day, all-expense-paid trip ing a Flip video camera, a $500 schol- O’Donovan also helped send local by Mr. O’Donovan, (who reminded the Netrebko sings Norina and John Del For more information about the to Hollywood. arship and bragging rights to the pro- rugby players to Utah for a tournament. crowd to come back because he still Carlo sings the title role in Gaetano operas, to find a movie theater and to After their arrival in Los Angeles, duction receiving the most votes. In addition to celebrating at the had 18 years left on the lease), the band Donizetti’s comedy Don Pasquale. Mr. order tickets online, visit the girls were divided into two teams, Sara is a senior at Governor House, patrons also gathered to enjoy delivered a second, more-rocking set, Levine will be conducting this opera metopera.org/hdlive. Tickets are also and mentored by Dreaming Tree Livingston High School and, after the music of the Itinerants, an Irish- as Mr. Flynn switched from acoustic to for the first time. available at participating theater box Films and learned the ins and outs of college, intends to live her dream – influenced rock group that features electric guitar. Giuseppe Verdi’s grand Don Carlo offices. Parsippany Cinema 12, Re- producing a 12-minute film. either in front of, or behind, the cam- Westfield resident Chris Flynn on gui- After a straight version of The Roll- will be shown in a new production by gal Commerce Center 18 in North After the week was over, two pro- era. tar. ing Stones’ “Dead Flowers,” the Itiner- Nicholas Hytner on December 11 at Brunswick and Monmouth Univer- The band played two sets at the ants delivered many more surprise 12:30 p.m. The cast includes Roberto sity are participating. House, the first consisting almost solely medleys, like the New Orleans classic Dodge Poetry Festival Shifts of traditional Irish pub songs. Begin- “Iko Iko,” with King Radio’s calypso ning with “Down By the Riverside,” tune “Man Smart, Woman Smarter,” the band powered through classics like which featured Mr. Flynn breaking in Venues to Newark’s NJPAC “Whiskey in the Jar” (also covered by with a monster solo.