The Met: Live in HD Frequently Asked Questions
General Information About the Series
As part of its efforts to reinvigorate opera and reach out to a broader public, the Metropolitan Opera in 2006 launched a groundbreaking program—The Metropolitan Opera: Live in High-Definition, a series of opera performances transmitted live in HD to movie theaters around the world.
From its inaugural season, the series enjoyed critical acclaim and global box office success, attracting an audience of more than 325,000 attendees across six live and six encore events in seven countries. In the second season, the number of performances increased to eight live and eight encore events, seen in 17 countries, with audience numbers nearly tripling to more than 925,000.
The Met: Live in HD returns this fall, with 9 transmissions scheduled during the 200–10 season. All performances take place on Saturdays and are transmitted live, except as noted. More countries and more theaters will continue to be added throughout the season.
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?”
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 long 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 musical and theatrical events in addition to movies.
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, and people in charge of marketing and distribution.
Q. Which operas are planned for the new Live in HD season?
A. In its fourth year, the series continues with 9 transmissions.
TOSCA
Puccini
Live: October 10, 2009
Encore: October 31, 2009
Featuring Karita Mattila
AIDA
Verdi
Live: October 24, 2009
Encore: November 21, 2009
Featuring Violeta Urmana
TURANDOT
Puccini
Live: November 7, 2009
Encore: December 5, 2009
Featuring Maria Guleghina
LES CONTES D’HOFFMANN
Offenbach
Live: December 19, 2009
Encore: January 23, 2010
Featuring Anna Netrebko and Elīna Garanča
DER ROSENKAVALIER
Strauss
Live: January 9, 2010
Encore: March 6, 2010
Featuring Renée Fleming
CARMEN
Bizet
Live: January 16, 2010
Encore: March 13, 2010
Featuring Angela Gheorghiu
SIMON BOCCANEGRA
Verdi
Live: February 6, 2010
Encore: March 20, 2010
Featuring Plácido Domingo
HAMLET
Thomas
Live: March 27, 2010
Encore: April 24, 2010
Featuring Simon Keenlyside and Natalie Dessay
ARMIDA
Rossini
Live: May 1, 2010
Encore: May 22, 2010
Featuring Renée Fleming
Q. Where can I obtain a list of operas, dates, times, and locations?
A. Detailed information is available on the Met website at www.metopera.org/HDLive
Q. What is new and different about this season?
A. The 2009–10 season features more theater locations and more transmissions than previous seasons. Visitors may request our free HD Guide, which will also be distributed at movie theaters in select locations. The educational program The Met: Live in HD in Schools expands beyond New York City this season and goes nationwide. The encore presentations of HD showings in the U.S. have been moved to Wednesday nights in most locations.
As in previous seasons, we are offering the added benefit of advance ticket purchase for the HD series to Met Members at the $125 level and above.
The Met continues to bring the broadcasts to schools and other venues such as performing arts centers, non-profit community movie theaters and museums.
Q. Can you send me a list of next season’s transmissions, so I don’t miss any performances?
A. Check out the production schedule at www.metopera.org/HDLive. We also suggest that you subscribe to our email distribution list for updates. Please send an e-mail to HDLive@metopera.org with your contact information.
You can also subscribe to the Front Row Centre quarterly newsletter to find out about all our upcoming special presentations.
Q. What day of the week are the live events?
A. All live events will take place on Saturdays.
Q. What day of the week are the encore events in Canada?
A. Generally, the encore presentations are on Saturdays. However, based on demand theaters may show additional encores them on a varying schedule. Check with the participating theaters for detailed information.
Q. How can I find out about the cast for each of the HD performance?
A. Cast sheets and synopses will be available for download and printing in English and French approximately one week prior to each performance at www.metopera.org/HDLive. And at Cineplex.com/events
Q. Which shows are appropriate for children?
A. Most HD performances are appropriate for audiences of all ages. However, a few of them deal with subjects that may not be suitable for young people.
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. As soon as this is done, the most current information will be available at www.metopera.org/HDLive.
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 www.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 designed for everyone. The productions are chosen to represent a variety of styles and the full range of the Met repertoire. They all feature great storytelling, great singing, and extraordinary production values.
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. These include the music, the composers, the performers, whether an opera is presented in a new productions or is considered 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. 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.
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 programs. In the past seasons, the intermission features have been hosted by Met stars like Renée Fleming, Susan Graham, and Natalie Dessay.
Q. How long are the intermissions for each broadcast?
A. Intermission times vary from production to production but most run approximately 30 minutes.
How To Get Tickets
Q. When will tickets go on sale?
A. Met Members at the supporting level ($125) and above enjoy advance access to tickets prior to the general public. At Cineplex Entertainment Theatres Scene members also share the same advance ticket window as Met Members. Tickets go on sale to members on Friday, August 21st
The advance ticket period runs from August 21 through September 3rd. If you are not a Member at the supporting level but wish to purchase tickets in advance of the general public, you will need to become a Member or upgrade your membership to the $125 level. You will be given a Met Member card to present at the box office of a participating theater and will be able to purchase up to four tickets per performance during the advance member window.
Tickets go on sale to the general public on Friday, September 4th, 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 www.metopera.org/HDLive. Follow the instructions and you will be directed to a website where you can buy your tickets.
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. Yes! Yes! As a qualified Met or Scene member, you will be able to purchase tickets for all performances—with a limit of four tickets per performance—during the advance sales period from August 21 to September 3rd . Tickets for all productions will be on sale to the general public on Friday,September 4th. The on-sale date at certain theaters may vary due. Please check with the participating theater for the most current information.
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 4th ) for groups of more than twenty 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. For Cineplex Entertainment Theatres please contact corporatesales@cineplex.com or by calling 1-800-313-4461
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.
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.
Purchasing Tickets On the Web
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 easier to remember.
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.
Membership Information
Q. Can I become a member and instantly qualify to purchase HD tickets in advance of the general public?
A. Yes. As soon as you sign up for membership at the $125 level or above, you will be instantly qualified to purchase Live in HD tickets in the U.S. and Canada, during the Met member priority period.
Q. How do I become a member?
A. To take advantage of the August 21 –September e priority window for Met members in the U.S. and Canada, please visit www.metopera.org/HDLive and click on the link “Become a member or upgrade today,” or call 1-800-MET-OPERA or 212-362-6000.
Theater Information
Q. How can I find a participating theater?
A. Please visit our website at www.metopera.org/HDLive. Choose your country and follow the links.
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.
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.
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 www.metopera.org/HDLive, click on the link labeled "participate," and fill out the form.
Q. I attended a previous Live in HD event and didn’t have a good experience because there were technical problems. What should I expect this year?
A. The Met’s live HD transmissions are at the forefront of new technology and can’t be compared to regular movie screenings. Unfortunately, there is always a possibility that equipment may fail. If you have a poor customer experience, please write a letter to HD Distribution Department, The Metropolitan Opera, Lincoln Center, New York, NY 10023 or send an email (HDLive@metopera.org) so we can direct the complaint to the respective theater partner.
On the Day of the Performance
Q. What should I wear?
A. You should wear whatever you would normally wear to go to a movie theater.
Q. I don’t like it when it’s noisy. Will people be able to buy popcorn?
A. Popcorn and other snacks and drinks will be sold as part of the movie-going experience.
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.
Program Guide
Q. Can I get a program for the Live in HD series?
A. Yes, you can request your copy of our free HD Guide. Go to www.metopera.org/HDLive or call 212-362-6000.
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 elect to distribute the Met’s HD Guide. However, the best way to get a free copy is to request it from the Met.
Q. When will my program arrive? I want to be sure I have it for the first event.
A. If you order by August 15, you will receive the guide at your mailing address before the first event. Orders will be processed throughout the season. The HD Guide will cover the entire season, from Opening Night to the last transmission in May 2009.
Q. I lost my program. How can I request another one?
A. Each requestor is entitled to one free HD Guide this season.
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 www.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.
Q. Will the Live in HD events be on television?
A. Yes. This season, PBS will broadcast the Met’s HD transmissions, approximately 60 to 90 days after the live theatrical event.
Publicity and Promotion
Q. Do you publish a newsletter?
A. You can sign up for our email newsletter, "High Notes," by visiting www.metopera.org. In addition, the Metropolitan Opera Guild publishes a newsletter twice a year.
Technology
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. Can we get more long or wide camera shots, not so many close-ups?
A. The way a transmission is presented visually is the director’s choice. It varies by performance. We continually provide feedback to the program directors, so please let us know your thoughts.
Q. Will my theater’s technology improve? For example, will you add a satellite or adjust the volume to avoid technical glitches in the future?
A. Unfortunately, all live programs are subject to technical issues. Please let us know via email at HDLive@metopera.org if you have specific feedback to share with us. The exhibitor partners work with us on-going to address any problems that occur locally.
Q. Where do I report any audio/visual issues that occurred during the broadcast?
A. Please send an email to HDLive@metopera.org, or send a letter to HD Distribution department, The Metropolitan Opera, Lincoln Center, New York, NY 10023. We will investigate any issues that arise with our exhibitor partners.
Q. Were there recent technological innovations that have made the HD series possible, or has this been possible for a while?
A. 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.
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.
Q. Are the opera directors participating in the direction of the HD transmissions or is this is separate crew?
A. The HD broadcasts are produced by camera crews with their own directors who are hired by the Met. During the 2006–07 and 2007–08 seasons, these included Gary Halvorson (The Magic Flute, I Puritani, Il Trittico), Brian Large (The First Emperor, Eugene Onegin, The Barber of Seville), and Barbara Willis Sweete (Tristan und Isolde, Hansel and Gretel).
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 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.
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.
Schools
Q. I heard HD is coming to select NYC schools. Can I attend those performances?
A. These performances are for students, parents, and school faculty only.
Q. My child attends a school showing the HD broadcasts. Can I go with them?
A. Yes, subject to the approval of the school in question.
PBS
Q. What is the channel of my local PBS station?
A. Please visit www.pbs.com and click on "television schedule," or call 212- 560-1313.
Q. When will the broadcasts be shown on PBS?
A. PBS will broadcast the programs 60 to 90 days after the live event.
DVDs
Q. Can I purchase a DVD of the show that I am seeing?
A. Through an agreement with EMI Records, five of the eight HD transmissions of the 2007–08 season will be released on DVD this fall. More information about the DVDs will be posted on our website within the next few months at www.metoperafamily.org/HDlive.
In Canada you can find Metropolitan Opera DVD’s at http://store.cineplex.com/store/index.jsp
Other Memorabilia
Q. Will there be any merchandise items available?
A. The Met will have merchandise available to purchase via our website. An announcement with more details is due shortly.
