Specticast 2013 Opera and Ballet Schedule

Guiseppe Verdi's AIDA

Thursday, March 7th | 6:30pm | 155 min
Italian with English subtitles
Conductor: Daniel Oren
Director: Gianfranco de Bosio
Starring: Hui He, Marco Berti, Andrea Ulbrich

Verdi's larger-than-life opera Aida is even larger than usual on the palatial outdoor stage at the Arena di Verona - and in 3D on the movie screen! This audience favorite shines in a stunning production, celebrating Verdi's 200th birthday year and the 100th anniversary of the Arena di Verona's opera series.

Jacques Offenbach's THE TALES OF HOFFMANN
(Les Contes d'Hoffmann)

Saturday, March 23rd | 12pm | 199 min
French with English subtitles
Conductor: Thomas Netopil
Director: Robert Carsen
Starring: Stefano Secco, Jane Archibald, Sophie Koch, Ana Maria Martinez

The Tales of Hoffmann, Offenbach's haunting tale of one man's desire for a parade of unattainable beauties, is presented in a captivating production from the Opera de Paris.

Giacomo Puccini's LA BOHÈME

Thursday, April 11th | 6:30pm | 124 min
Italian with English subtitles
Conductor: Daniele Gatti
Director: Damiano Michieletto
Starring: Piotr Beczala, Anna Netrebko, Massimo Cavalletti

La Bohème - arguably the most popular and passionate opera of all time - is at its pinnacle with this unbeatable cast, starring the velvet-voiced Anna Netrebko as the doomed flower girl Mimi. Puccini's masterpiece is as heartbreaking as ever in this celebrated production from the Salzburg Festival.

Jules Massenet's MANON

Saturday, May 18th | 12pm | 159 min
French with English subtitles
Conductor: Daniel Barenboim
Director: Vincent Paterson
Starring: Anna Netrebko, Rolando Villazón

Opera's "dream team" Anna Netrebko and Rolando Villazon unite to conquer Massenet's Manon. The flirtation, the longing, and the desire of the young nobleman and the tragic heroine Manon are in full bloom thanks to the vocal brilliance of these two artists, both at the peak of their careers. From the Berlin Staatsoper.

Guiseppe Verdi's FALSTAFF

Thursday, June 27th | 6:30pm | 153 min
Italian with English subtitles
Conductor: Daniel Oren
Director: Dominique Pitoiset
Starring: Ambrogio Maestri, Artur Rucinski, Paolo Fanale

Verdi's final opera is a raucous comedy about the penniless, portly old knight Falstaff who gets tricked - time and again! - by the young ladies who rebuff his romantic overtures. This romp of an opera delights in a production from the Opera de Paris.

W.A. Mozart's THE MAGIC FLUTE (Die Zauberflöte)

Saturday, August 10th | 12pm | 240 min
German
Conductor: Nikolaus Harnoncourt
Director: Jens-Daniel Herzog
Starring: Georg Zeppenfeld, Bernard Richter, Mandy Fredrich

The Magic Flute is a colorful parade of wild and whimsical characters - from the high-flying coloratura of the Queen of the Night to Papageno and his flighty songs, this is truly a magical opera!

George Bizet's CARMEN

Thursday, August 22nd | 6:30pm | 109 min
German
Conductor: Philippe Jordan
Director: Yves Beaunesne
Starring: Anna Caterina Antonacci, Nikolai Schukoff

Carmen has lust, betrayal, murder - not to mention
some of the most famous music in the history of opera. Anna Caterina Antonacci is "in her prime...a musically intelligent and vocally splendid singer" (NY Times); she tackles the title role with fire and intensity in this spectacular production from the Opera de Paris.

Engelbert Humperdinck's HANSEL AND GRETEL

Thursday, September 19th | 6:30pm | 109 min
French
Conductor: Claus Peter Flor
Director: Mariame Clement
Starring: Daniela Sindram, Anne-Catherine Gillet

Two sweets-loving children, one hungry witch - watch out, it's Hansel and Gretel! The classic fairy tale takes an operatic twist in this family favorite, a charming production from the Opera de Paris.

Engelbert Humperdinck's LA GIOCONDA

Thursday, October 17th | 6:30pm | 220 min
Italian
Conductor: Daniel Oren
Director, sets and costumes: Pier Luigi Pizzi
Starring: Violeta Urmana, Marcelo Alvarez

La Gioconda is possibly the grandest of operas - complete with an on-stage shipwreck and a third-act ballet that features one of the most memorable melodies in opera. Operatic superstars Urmana and Alvarez make this a must-see for any opera fan.

Johann Strauss II's DIE FLEDERMAUS

Thursday, November 14th | 6:30pm | 173 min
German
Conductor: Franz Welser-Most
Director: Otto Schenk
Starring: Kurt Streit, Michaela Kaune, Zoryana Kushple

It's the New Years Eve countdown...who will be your midnight kiss? The bumbling lovers in Die Fledermaus from the Vienna State Opera will waltz the night away (and drink a little too much champagne) until they find out!

DON QUIXOTE

Saturday, February 23rd | 12pm | 158 min
Encore - Thursday, September 12th | 6:30pm
Starring: Paris Opera Ballet

Don Quixote, one of the most popular ballets ever, takes on new brilliance in this re-imagining by dance legend Rudolf Nureyev.

LEGENDS OF DANCE: SWAN LAKE

Thursday, March 14th | 6:30pm | 107 min
Encore - Saturday, November 2nd | 12pm
Starring: Rudolf Nureyev, Dame Margot Fonteyn

For a limited time, dance lovers can experience this landmark 1966 performance of Swan Lake, starring dance legends Rudolf Nureyev and Dame Margot Fonteyn.

BODA de SANGRE/SUITE FLAMENCA

Thursday, April 25th | 6:30pm | 105 min
Starring: Vanesa Vento, Joaquín Mulero, Maite Chico

Two distinct works combine for an incredible and combustible performance from the Teatro Real. The passion, color and rhythm of the flamenco envelope the viewer in this classic of Spanish dance.

MAHLER 3RD SYMPHONY

Thursday, May 30th | 6:30pm | 120 min
Starring: Paris Opera Ballet

Mahler's 3rd Symphony, written as "a great hymn to the glory of all creation," combined with John Neumeier's lyrical and powerful choreography, creates an elegant and inspired evening of dance from the Paris Opera Ballet.

LA SYLPHIDE

Saturday, June 8th | 12pm | 127 min
Starring: Aurélie Dupont, Mathieu Ganio

A beautiful fairy disappears into the mist - how will the amorous farmer find her again? And what will his fiancee think of all this? La Sylphide, one of the oldest surviving Romantic ballets, features an all-star cast including Aurelie Dupont and Mathieu Ganio in this production from the Paris Opera Ballet.