The Met -- Coming to a theater near you!

Local opera fans will no longer have to take a road trip to see the Metropolitan Opera's high definition broadcasts in movie theaters.

The Met's new initiative -- beaming live opera into movie theaters around the world, which began last year -- is coming to a movie theater near you. The Deerfield Towne Center movie theater in Mason and the Springdale Showcase Cinemas will present eight opera performances, Dec. 15 to April 26.

The series will open at 1 p.m. Dec. 15 with Gounod's "Romeo et Juliette," starring Anna Netrebko and Roberto Alagna and conducted by Placido Domingo.

A family-friendly New Year's Day performance(1 p.m.) is planned of "Hansel and Gretel," in a new English-language production by Richard Jones.

Metropolitan Opera music director and Cincinnati native James Levine will conduct three of the operas in the series: Verdi's "Macbeth," starring Maria Guleghina (Jan. 12); Puccini's "Manon Lescaut" starring Karita Mattila (Feb. 16); and Wagner's "Tristan und Isolde," starring Deborah Voigt and Ben Heppner (March 22).

The worldwide audience is expected to reach a million for the entire series. Because of the HD series' popularity, it's suggested that you purchase tickets early.
Tickets: $22 adults; $20 seniors; $15 children. 1-800-638-6737; get the whole schedule, see a trailer, read about the cast and production and purchase tickets at www.metopera.org.

Photos:
Alice Coote as Hansel and Christine Schafer as Gretel, Nick Heavican and Anne Deniau, Metropolitan opera
Anna Netrebko surrounded in a colorful scene from Romeo et Juliette, Ken Howard\Metropolitan Opera