Contact: Peter Koht (831) 420-5154 [email protected] Release Date: Immediate “THE MET: LIVE IN HD” IN SANTA CRUZ THIS SUMMER FOR SPECIAL SUMMER ENCORE PRODUCTIONS New York and Centennial, Colo. – July 1, 2010 – The Metropolitan Opera and NCM Fathom present a series of four encore performances from the historic archives of the Peabody Award- winning The Met: Live in HD series in select movie theaters nationwide, including the Cinema 9 in Downtown Santa Cruz. Since 2006, NCM Fathom and The Metropolitan Opera have partnered to bring classic operatic performances to movie screens across America live with The Met: Live in HD series. The first Live in HD event was seen in 56 theaters in December 2006. Fathom has since expanded its participating theater footprint which now reaches more than 500 movie theaters in the United States. We’re thrilled to see these world class performances offered right here in downtown Santa Cruz,” said councilmember Cynthia Mathews. “We know there’s a dedicated base of local opera fans and a strong regional audience for these broadcasts. Now, thanks to contemporary technology and a creative partnership, the Metropolitan Opera performances will become a valuable addition to our already stellar lineup of visual and performing arts.” Tickets for The Met: Live in HD 2010 Summer Encores, shown in theaters on Wednesday evenings at 6:30 p.m. in all time zones and select Thursday matinees, are available at www.FathomEvents.com or by visiting the Regal Cinema’s box office. This summer’s series will feature: . Eugene Onegin – Wednesday, July 7 and Thursday, July 8– Soprano Renée Fleming and baritone Dmitri Hvorostovsky star in Tchaikovsky’s lushly romantic masterpiece about mistimed love. Valery Gergiev conducts Tchaikovsky’s most beloved opera. La Bohème – Wednesday, July 14 and Thursday, July 15 – A magnificent cast comes together for Franco Zeffirelli’s classic production of the Puccini favorite. Angela Gheorghiu sings Mimì, the role of her Met debut, opposite golden-toned tenor Ramón Vargas as her lover, Rodolfo. The exciting young maestro Nicola Luisotti conducts. Turandot – Wednesday, July 21 and Thursday, July 22 – Director Franco Zeffirelli’s breathtaking production of Puccini’s final opera is a favorite of the Met repertoire. Maria Guleghina plays the ruthless Chinese princess of the title, whose hatred of men is so strong that she has all suitors who can’t solve her riddles beheaded. Marcello Giordani sings Calàf, the unknown prince who eventually wins her love and whose solos include the famous “Nessun dorma.” . Carmen – Wednesday, July 28 and Thursday, July 29 – Elīna Garanča and Roberto Alagna caused a sensation with their smoldering performances in the Met’s acclaimed new production of Bizet’s masterpiece. One of the most popular operas of all time, Carmen “is about sex, violence, and racism—and its corollary: freedom,” says Olivier Award-winning director Richard Eyre. Barbara Frittoli plays Micaëla, Teddy Tahu Rhodes is the matador Escamillo, and Yannick Nézet-Séguin conducts in his widely praised Met debut. “Opera will bring a new dimension to this creative and cultural town,” said Bonnie Liebmann, local organizer. “Already a destination for our natural beauty and environment, this new resource will cement our reputation as a cultural tourism destination as well.” Available through NCM’s exclusive Digital Broadcast Network (North America’s largest cinema broadcast network), this opera series is aimed at expanding the appeal and reach of opera around the world. It has been met with critical and popular acclaim. Using robotic cameras and state-of-the-art technology, The Met: Live in HD captures the onstage action from striking angles and heightens attention to the narrative elements of both performance and production. The series offers behind-the-scenes features, live interviews with cast and crew, insightful short documentaries, and bird’s-eye views of the productions, offering an unprecedented look at what goes into the staging of an opera. The Met: Live in HD is made possible by a generous grant from the Neubauer Family Foundation. Bloomberg L.P. is the global corporate sponsor. About National CineMedia (NCM) NCM operates NCM Media Networks, a leading integrated media company reaching U.S. consumers in movie theaters, online and through mobile technology. The NCM Cinema Network and NCM Fathom present cinema advertising and events across the nation’s largest digital in- theater network, comprised of theaters owned by AMC Entertainment Inc., Cinemark Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: CNK), Regal Entertainment Group (NYSE: RGC) and other leading regional theater circuits. NCM’s theater network covers 171 Designated Market Areas® (49 of the top 50) and includes approximately 17,100 screens (15,500 digital). During 2009, approximately 680 million patrons attended movies shown in theaters currently included in NCM’s network (excluding Consolidated Theatres). The NCM Interactive Network offers 360-degree integrated marketing opportunities in combination with cinema, encompassing approximately 40 entertainment- related web sites, online widgets and mobile applications. National CineMedia, Inc. (NASDAQ: NCMI) owns a 40.7% interest in and is the managing member of National CineMedia LLC. For more information visit www.ncm.com or www.fathomevents.com. About the Metropolitan Opera Under the leadership of General Manager Peter Gelb and Music Director James Levine, the Met has a series of bold initiatives underway that are designed to broaden its audience and revitalize the company’s repertory. The Met has made a commitment to presenting modern masterpieces alongside the classic repertory, with highly theatrical productions featuring the greatest opera stars in the world. The Met’s 2010-11 season opens on September 27 and will include seven new productions, including two company premieres (John Adams’s Nixon in China and Rossini’s Le Comte Ory), as well as the first two installments of a new production of Wagner’s epic Der Ring des Nibelungen, conducted by James Levine and directed by Robert Lepage (Das Rheingold and Die Walküre). For more information about the Metropolitan Opera, please visit www.metopera.org. .