Coming to a movie theater near you: Opera, more opera and more opera

So, you never thought a place called the "Rave" would show opera?

The Metropolitan Opera started it. Now you'll also be seeing opera in local movie theaters direct (but not live) from La Scala in Milan, Italy and San Francisco. High definition digital projectors and Dolby Surround Sound make these shows a quality experience, for small bucks. Can there be too much of a good thing? Not if you are a loyal opera fan, apparently. (But please, do occasionally visit a live performance now and then...)

Here's the scoop.

Angela Gheorghiu plays the Rave: San Francisco Opera and The Bigger Picture will launch their digital cinema presentations with screenings of Puccini's La Rondine starring Angela Gheorghiu March 8, 9, 10 and 11 at the RAVE'S WEST CHESTER 18, 9415 CIVIC CENTER BLVD. WEST CHESTER, OH 45069 (Info: 513-463-2324)

La Rondine this weekend , Sat & Sun, March 8 & 9 at 12:30 p.m.; Mon & Tue, March 10 & 11, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets: $20

The big screen loves renowned soprano Angela Gheorghiu, pictured above, who stars as the worldly Magda de Civry opposite tenor Misha Didyk as the naïve young Ruggero in this rare staging of Puccini's opera. The Art Deco-inspired production by Nicolas Joël (from Royal Opera, Covent Garden and Théâtre du Capitole, Toulouse), is directed by Stephen Barlow. Ion Marin conducts.

March 29, 30, 31 and April 1: Samson and Delilah
Saint-Saëns's biblical epic stars mezzo-soprano Olga Borodina as Delilah and tenor Clifton Forbis as the Old Testament hero who loses his heart, his hair, and finally his strength. Former Cincinnatian Sandra Bernhard directs this lavish San Francisco Opera/Nicolas Joël production and Patrick Summers conducts.

April 12, 13, 14 and 15: Don Giovanni
Baritone Mariusz Kwiecien sings the title role of Mozart’s Don Juan setting in this innovative San Francisco Opera/Théâtre Royal de la Monnaie co-production. San Francisco Opera Music Director Donald Runnicles conducts, and Leah Hausman directs.

April 19, 20, 21, 22: Madama Butterfly
This acclaimed San Francisco Opera production of Puccini's masterwork stars soprano Patricia Racette in her signature role as the tragic heroine Cio-Cio-San, opposite rising young tenor Brandon Jovanovich as Lieutenant B.F. Pinkerton. Mezzo-soprano Zheng Cao is Cio-Cio-San's maid and confidante, Suzuki, and baritone Steven Powell is the American consul Sharpless. San Francisco Opera Music Director Donald Runnicles conducts. The production, created by Ron Daniels and designed by Michael Yeargan, is directed by Kathleen Belcher.

For more information about SF Opera productions, visit sfopera.com or thebiggerpicture.us/opera or www.ravemotionpictures.com


La Scala in West Chester: Three operas from Italy's famous La Scala Opera House are appearing on Wednesdays (and one Thursday) at the Rave this spring.

Tickets: $20, go on sale Friday March 7th, and can be purchased at the box office or online at www.opera.screenvision.com.
Playing at: RAVE'S WEST CHESTER 18, 9415 CIVIC CENTER BLVD. WEST CHESTER, OH 45069
Info: 513-463-2324

The lineup:

March 26th, 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.: La Traviata
Liliana Cavani directs Giuseppe Verdi's La Traviata straight from the stage of La Scala with Angela Gheorghiu starring as the beautiful courtesan Violetta in this 2007 performance. Ramón Vargas sings her lover, Alfredo. The conductor is Lorin Maazel.

April 30th, 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.: Maria Stuarda
Donizetti's Maria Stuarda returns to Italy's premier opera stage for the first time since La Scala's refurbishment in 2004 and highlights prima donnas Mariella Devia and Anna Caterina Antonacci. Maria Stuarda is a fictional tale about the political and religious conflicts between Mary Stuart, previously the Queen of Scotland, and the Protestant Queen Elizabeth I. Mariella Devia is Maria Stuarda and Anna Caterina Antonacci sings the role of Elisabetta.

May 15th, 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Il Trittico
Celebrating the 150th anniversary of Giacomo Puccini's birth in 1858, La Scala presents a new production of Il Trittico, directed by Luca Ronconi and conducted by Riccardo Chailly. Barbara Frittoli is Suor Angelica.

Don't forget the Met:
The Metropolitan Opera high-definition broadcasts continue LIVE in our region, too.

Next: Peter Grimes "Live," 1:30 p.m. March 15, reprised as an "Encore," March 16 at 3 p.m., at Springdale 18 Cinema DeLux ($22 adults; $20 seniors and $15 children 11 and under. Call 513-699-1500 or go in person to the theater. Get the whole schedule, see a trailer, read about the cast and production and purchase tickets at www.metopera.org.

Radio: Don't forget to tune into WGUC 90.9 this Saturday for Tony Award winner Mary Zimmerman's new production of Donizetti's Lucia di Lammermoor, to be broadcast live from the Met over the Toll Brothers-Metropolitan Opera International Radio Network at 1:30 p.m. Cincinnati native and Met Music Director James Levine conducts the performance, which features celebrated French soprano Natalie Dessay as Lucia.

Photos above of Angela Gheorghiu from San Francisco Opera. Production photo is by Terrence McCarthy.