BRATTLEBORO — After years of planning and months of fund raising, Brattleboro Arts Initiative and Brattleboro Music Center, in a special joint venture, have announced that the Metropolitan Opera Live in Hi-Definition broadcasts will be coming to the Latchis Theatre starting in October.
The first of 12 operas to be broadcast for the 2010-2011 season, Wagner's Das Rheingold, will air on Oct. 9 and 10 at the Latchis.
“We're over the top,” according to Gail Nunziata, managing director of Brattleboro Arts Initiative. “We had a $7,500 challenge grant from a very generous anonymous donor, which has been met. And, generally, we're delighted that the pieces have fit together so smoothly.”
The pieces are new projection, satellite and sound equipment for Theatre 3, the 130 seat theatre on the lobby level, next to Latchis' main theatre; also the efforts of “at least 100” Nunziata says, dedicated opera fans, who donated the $30,000 necessary.
Also a smooth fit is the collaboration with the BMC, classical music's home away from home in Brattleboro.
“We have a 50-plus year history of teaching voice, the foundation of which is based in the classical Italian school of singing, at the BMC,” says Margery McCrum, member of the voice faculty of the Music School, and currently president of the Board of Trustees of the Brattleboro Music Center. “Our voice students are introduced to art song and opera in weekly lessons (often with some trepidation!). However, it doesn't take long for them to get swept up in the beauty, joy and allure of singing in Italian and German, and be transported into the world of intrigue, drama and fun of opera. I am thrilled that we are collaborating with BAI to bring the Metropolitan Opera to our own backyard. What a gift to our community!”
In an effort to reach the widest audience possible, whenever there is a Saturday opera scheduled, the Latchis will host an encore presentation on Sunday as well. Because these are live broadcasts direct from the Metropolitan Opera at Lincoln Center, the start time of the Saturday broadcasts depend on whether the Met includes an hour of introductory material. This means they will start either at noon or 1 p.m. All Sunday Encore presentations start at 11 a.m.
Tickets can be purchaes from BrattleboroTix at www.brattleborotix.com. The non-computerized may call the Brattleboro Music Center at 802-257-4523 and they will help you. Tickets will also be sold at the door the day of the performance, if available. Ticket prices are $24 for Saturday, $22 for Sunday, $268 for the 12-opera season. The season schedule is posted at www.brattleboroarts.org and www.bmcvt.org and in the Latchis Theatre lobby.