FAQs Live in HD
Tickets for the fourth season of The Met: Live in HD, the Met’s award-winning series of live high-definition performance transmissions to movie theaters around the world, go on sale to qualified Met Members in the U.S. and Canada on Friday, August 21, 2009, and to the general public on Tuesday, September 8. The non-Atlantic provinces of Canada start public ticket sales on Friday, September 4.
The 2009–10 HD season features nine transmissions. The series kicks off on Saturday, October 10, , with Puccini’s Tosca, in a new production directed by Luc Bondy in his Met debut. Karita Mattila stars in the title role and Met Music Director James Levine conducts.
Four more new productions are featured in the series, including Tony Award winner Barlett Sher’s staging of Offenbach’s Les Contes d’Hoffmann, starring Anna Netrebko and Joseph Calleja and conducted by Maestro Levine; Bizet’s Carmen, directed by Richard Eyre in his Met debut, with Elīna Garanča and Roberto Alagna; Ambrose Thomas’s Hamlet, directed by Patrice Caurier and Moshe Leiser, starring Simon Keenlyside and Natalie Dessay; and Mary Zimmerman’s staging of Rossini’s Armida, with Renée Fleming in the title role. Other highlights of the HD season include Violeta Urmana’s acclaimed portrayal of the title role in Aida; Renée Fleming and Susan Graham in Strauss’s Der Rosenkavlier; Verdi’s Simon Boccanegra with Plácido Domingo singing the baritone title role; and Puccini’s Turandot, starring Maria Guleghina and Marcello Giordani. For complete casting and details please visit Metopera.org/HDlive.
The live presentations will be shown worldwide on Saturdays through May 1, 2010. Most encore screenings in the United States will take place on Wednesdays, approximately 18 days after the live exhibition.
Over 40 countries around the world are participating in The Met: Live in HD this season; several independent cinemas, performing arts organizations, and universities in the United States will be presenting the series for the first time.
To better serve you, we’ve pulled together answers to some frequently asked questions about the series, everything from “What should I wear to attend a live transmission?” to “What are the technological innovations that have made the HD series possible?”
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Q. How did the idea of The Met: Live in HD start?
A. The program was developed as a way to reach new audiences through new technology.
The Met has a 77-year tradition of broadcasting live performances to millions of radio listeners globally on the Toll Brothers–Metropolitan Opera International Radio Network. This offered the springboard for the Live in HD program. Most of the HD transmissions are simulcast on radio.
The initial inspiration was a global theatrical event featuring the rock musician David Bowie, who launched his 2003 album Reality with a live performance transmitted to movie theaters via satellite.
Q. How long did it take from conception to execution?
A. From planning to launch, the project took one year. There were two especially important components in making it a reality. The first were the new union agreements between the Met and the various organizations that operate at the opera house. The second was the increasing availability of movie theaters and other venues that were interested in screening live musical and theatrical events in addition to movies.
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Q. How many people at the Met are involved in producing the Live in HD presentations? What are their various roles?
A. There is a huge team of people involved in bringing Met performances to the big screen. This includes everyone from stagehands and stage managers to the singers, chorus and orchestra, audio and video technicians, cameramen, producers, scriptwriters, hosts, and people in charge of marketing and distribution.
Q. Where can I obtain a list of operas, dates, times, and locations?
A. Detailed information about each broadcast can be found at metopera.org/HDLive
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Q. How can I find out about the cast for each of the HD performances?
A. Cast sheets and synopses will be available for download and printing approximately one week prior to each performance at Metopera.org/HDLive.
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Q. Can you send me a list of next season’s transmissions, so I don’t miss any performances?
A. This information will not be available until later this season. We suggest that you subscribe to our email distribution list for updates about the HD shows and other offerings. Please send an e-mail to HDLive@metopera.org with your contact information.
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Q. What day of the week are the live events?
A. All live events will take place on Saturdays at 1 p.m. ET.
Q. What day of the week are the encore events in the U.S.?
A. Generally, the encore presentations are on Wednesdays. However, some independent and international theaters may show them on a varying schedule. Check with the participating theaters for detailed information.
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Q. Where can I obtain a full list of participating movie theaters worldwide?
A. We are working with our exhibitor partners now to confirm locations. The most current information is available at Metopera.org/HDLive.
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Q. If my country is not on the list for the upcoming season, does this mean there will not be any broadcasts at all?
A. Please check Metopera.org/HDLive for the most current information. Theaters wishing to participate can fill out an application form on the Met website. New exhibitors are added on an ongoing basis.
Q. Is this program just for opera fans?
A. The Met: Live in HD is for everyone. The productions are chosen to represent a variety of styles and the full range of the Met repertoire and artists. They all feature great storytelling, great singing, and extraordinary production values.
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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. Various factors play a part in choosing the repertoire for Live in HD, including the music, the composers, the performers, a Met favorite, etc.
In general, opera, when it’s presented at the highest level both musically and theatrically, appeals to a very broad audience.
Q. How do the singers feel about performing in these live transmissions?
A. The artists involved are excited to be a part of this initiative and reach worldwide audiences. It is as important to them as it is to the Met to keep opera one of the most thrilling art forms, relevant to our time, and a part of the cultural mainstream.
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Q. What happens during intermission of the live transmissions?
A. The Live in HD events are enhanced by specially produced features that offer audiences a look behind the scenes. These include live interviews with singers, directors, designers, and stage technicians, as well as documentaries and other short features. In the past seasons, the intermission features have been hosted by Met stars like Renée Fleming, Susan Graham, Natalie Dessay, and the late Beverly Sills.
Q. How long are the intermissions for each broadcast?
A. Intermission times vary from production to production but most run approximately 30 minutes.
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Q. When will tickets go on sale?
A. Met Members at the supporting level ($125) and above enjoy advance access to tickets two weeks prior to the general public. Tickets are on sale to the general public beginning Tuesday September 8 online and at participating theater box offices in both the U.S. and Canada. Additionally, some of the Met’s exhibitor partners will offer subscription packages. Check with your local cinema for more details.
Q. How do I purchase tickets?
A. Please visit Metopera.org/HDLive. Follow the instructions and you will be directed to a website where you can buy your tickets.
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Q. What are the ticket prices this year?
A. Ticket prices may vary between locations. Please check with your local theater.
Q. Can I purchase tickets for the entire HD season?
A. Met Members are able to purchase tickets for all performances, with a limit of four tickets per performance, during the advance sales period. Tickets for all productions are on sale to the general public starting Tuesday, September 8. The on-sale date at certain theaters may vary. Please check with the participating theater for the most current information.
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Q. How do I purchase tickets for large groups?
A. Group sales opportunities may be available at select theaters, after the public on-sale date (September 8) for groups of more than thirty persons. If you are interested in this, please send an email with your request to HDLive@metopera.org. Further instructions will be provided to you.
Q. The theater I want to go to is sold out. What options do I have?
A. The best thing to do is to keep checking the theater website. Sometimes theaters will open additional auditoriums at the same theater location. We also suggest that you consider another location nearby.
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Q. I don’t feel comfortable giving out my personal information over the Internet. Can I still purchase tickets without going to the box office?
A. During the general public on-sale period, the theaters offer the ability to purchase tickets in person at a participating theater box office or online. The web is the fastest way to get your tickets. Rest assured that the information you provide is secure.
Q. If I buy tickets for the entire season, can the tickets be transferred to another theater if I am out of town?
A. Tickets for HD transmissions are just like regular movie tickets and can’t be transferred to another location.
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Q. How do I set up an account on a third-party ticketing site?
A. Most websites have similar procedures. Before you can purchase tickets, you will be asked you to provide some basic contact information. Your login will normally consist of an email address and a password. Be sure to pick a password that is easy to remember. If you’ve already set up an account, you will simply have to provide your email address and password at checkout to complete the transaction.
Q. How do I log in to my Met account? What if I have forgotten my password?
A. At the top of every page on the Met website, you will find a link labeled “login.” In case you have forgotten your login details, you will have the opportunity to sign up for a temporary password that will be sent to your email address. To avoid these extra steps, it is suggested you pick a username and password that are easy to remember.
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Q. I’m on the theater website and am trying to purchase tickets. Why can’t I click on the time of the show?
A. If a show time link has been disabled it means the show is sold out. Keep checking back as additional screens may be added, or select an alternate location.
Q. I lost my ticket confirmation. How can I re-print it?
A. Please save the email confirmation you receive from the online ticketing agency. In the email, you will find a link that you can click on to re-print the ticket confirmation. When you come to the theater to pick up your tickets, please bring the credit card used to purchase them as well as the ticket confirmation.
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Q. Can I become a Met Member and instantly qualify to purchase HD tickets in advance of the general public?
A. Ticket to The Met: Live in HD 2008-09 are currently on sale to the general public. Guild Members at the $125 Supporting level or higher and Patrons may take advantage of a priority ticketing period, prior to the start of each Live in HD season. Join online or call 1.800.MET.OPERA (212.362.0068) so you are ready to take advantage of this benefit during our next priority ticketing period.
Q. How do I become a Met Member?
A.You can join online or call 1.800.MET.OPERA (212.362.0068) to speak to a Guild membership representative . Enjoy exciting benefits while supporting Met Opera productions and award-winning Guild educational programs.
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Q. How can I find a participating theater?
A. Please visit our website at Metopera.org/HDLive. Choose your country and follow the links.
U.S. and International theater locations:
Q. What time do the theater auditoriums open?
A. You will be able to enter the theater approximately 30 to 45 minutes before the transmission begins.
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Q. Why can’t we be admitted earlier?
A. Prior to screenings, we test our live satellite feed to the theaters to enable them to make last-minute adjustments to their equipment, so that you are ensured the best possible viewing experience.
Q. I lost my tickets. What do I do?
A. Please be sure to keep track of your purchases. Neither the Met nor the movie theaters are responsible for lost or stolen tickets.
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Q. I represent a movie theater wishing to participate in The Met: Live in HD. How can I join?
A. The Met is interested in finding new partners all over the world. Please visit Metopera.org/HDLive, click on the link under “Cinema Operators,” and fill out the form.
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Q. What should I wear?
A. Feel free to wear whatever you would normally wear to go to a movie theater, although some patrons have told us they enjoy dressing up for the operas.
Q. Will people be able to buy popcorn?
A. Popcorn and other snacks and drinks will be sold as part of the movie-going experience.
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Q. I am disabled. Will I have priority seating?
A. Most theaters do have special priority seating for guests who need assistance. We suggest arriving early to secure these seats and seeking the help of an usher or theater manager.
Q. Can I get a program for the Live in HD series?
A. All Met Members will automatically receive the HD and Radio Guide by mail, which will be available in October. If you are not a Met Member, join now or request your guide.
Q. Will programs be available for sale at the theaters?
A. There won’t be programs for sale at the present time. Some theaters may choose to distribute the Met’s HD and Radio Guide or cast sheets/synopses of the opera. However, the best way to get a free copy is to request it from the Met.
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Q. I lost my program. How can I request another one?
A. People who request programs are entitled to one free HD Guide this season.
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Other Opportunities to See the Broadcasts
Q. What does “encore broadcast” mean? Where will these broadcasts play?
A. An encore performance is a re-exhibition of the live event. The encore schedule in the U.S. is available on the Met website at Metopera.org/HDLive. Most participating theaters in the U.S. will present encore screenings on Wednesdays following the live transmission. Encore exhibitions do vary, so please contact your local participating theater for up-to-date information.
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Publicity and Promotion
Q. Do you publish a newsletter?
A. You can sign up for our email newsletter, “High Notes,” by visiting Metopera.org.
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Q. Will there be subtitles?
A. There are on-screen subtitles for all transmissions. These are the same as the Met titles you see when you come to a live performance at the opera house. In most instances, the subtitles are provided in English. Spanish subtitles will be provided in Latin America; French in France and Belgium (select locations); and German in Germany and Austria.
Q. How does high definition look different from a movie, and how is the Met transmitting in high definition?
A. Feature films are typically shot on 35 mm film. The HD broadcasts are shot in high-quality video for a live performance. Video looks different from film on any size screen.
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Q. Were there recent technological innovations that have made the HD series possible?
A. Recent advances in digital technology have made the transmissions possible. Theaters are transforming their projection equipment to the digital age, and are installing satellite equipment to enable them to receive a live HD signal. HD sets a standard of quality that didn’t exist before and that provides a real cinematic experience in a live format, which is perfectly suited to opera.
Q. Broadcasting a live theatrical performance to movie theaters must present some technical challenges. Do you experience any?
A. We experienced a few video and audio glitches at various theater locations during each transmission in the U.S. The problems are “local” in nature; one cinema may experience a small problem, while another nearby has a perfect transmission. Our cinema partner assembled a quality control team to report any issues brought to their attention during the transmissions. Instant reports were provided to the Met’s HD technical advisor. Most technical issues were addressed and rectified immediately.
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Q. Will my theater’s technology improve? Where do I report any audio/visual issues that occurred during the broadcast?
A. The Met wants the best viewing experience possible for all HD audiences. Even though all live programs are subject to technical issues, the problems often rest with the individual movie theaters. Speak to the theater manager and let them know about your experience so they can work towards making the necessary adjustments. The exhibitor partners work with us to address any problems that occur locally. You may also let us know via email at HDLive@metopera.org or send a letter to HD Distribution department, The Metropolitan Opera, Lincoln Center, New York, NY 10023, if you have specific feedback to share with us.
Q. Are there different camera angles and close-ups of singers, conductors and the orchestra, like in a PBS telecast?
A. The broadcasts are produced with at least 10 cameras, meaning there are multiple points of view. There are many different kinds of shots, including special camera zooms and close-ups.
Q. Is the lighting different during the live transmissions?
A. Sometimes the original theatrical lighting is modified for the transmissions. There is a collaborative process between the HD video controllers and the stage lighting artists who work at the Met. Often there are no changes. The Met has never added any lighting instruments for television or HD.
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Q. How is the sound managed?
A. Our broadcasts are engineered and delivered to movie theaters in Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound to accommodate most movie theater systems. It is the next best audio experience to being in the opera house itself.
Q. Does the Met use a different camera from what it uses to record for PBS? How will the broadcast translate to wide-screen?
A. HD is the format used for wide-screen presentations. Since the Met is shooting in HD, the broadcasts are compatible with wide-screen. PBS will downgrade the presentation to standard definition for television, but will also present the original broadcasts on their HD channels.
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Q. I heard HD is coming to select NYC schools and other cities nationwide. Can I attend those performances?
A. Most performances are for students, parents, and school faculty only. To get the most updated information about The Met: HD Live in Schools, go to Metopera.org/education.
Q. My child attends a school showing the HD broadcasts. Can I go with them?
A. Yes. Parents planning on attending an opera can help their children better prepare by downloading study materials at Metopera.org/education.
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Q. Can I purchase a DVD of the show that I am seeing?
A. The following HD transmissions are now available on DVD: La Bohème, Eugene Onegin, The First Emperor, Hansel and Gretel, Macbeth, The Magic Flute, Manon Lescaut, Peter Grimes, and I Puritani. The DVDs are available for purchase at the Met Opera Shop and online at Metoperashop.org.
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