The Metropolitan Opera HD Live Season 3 Episodes

Episode 1

Opening Night Gala Starring Renée Fleming

Keeping with a long-standing tradition, Renee Fleming kicks off the new season at the Met with scenes from Verdi's Traviata, Massenet's Manon, and Strauss' Capriccio. She is joined by Ramon Vargas and Thomas Hampson.

Episode 2

Richard Strauss: Salome

Sat, Oct 11, 2008113 mins

Bubbie's Seder was never like this: Herod's wife is already drunk, so he asks his step-daughter Salome for a lap-dance. She'd rather kiss John the Baptist on the mouth, but all he does is shout Bible verses at her, which is really annoying. One of Herod's guards is crazy in love with Salome and gets so jealous, he just up and kills himself right there. In the background, some Jewish scholars argue about the Talmud, but Herod insists on that lap-dance. Salome plays along if it means she can get that kiss, and before you can say "Dayenu" or "silver platter," she ruins Seder for everyone. The whole thing is just sick, sick, sick, and is set to some of the most thrilling, luscious music you ever heard.

Episode 3

Doctor Atomic

184 mins

Composer John Adams re-creates the tension at Los Alamos, 1945, the night before the first atom bomb is tested. Gerald Finley portrays Dr. Oppenheimer; the first act ends with a soul-searching aria, "Batter My Heart." (text by John Dryden).

Episode 4

Berlioz: La damnation de Faust

Sat, Nov 22, 2008

French composer Hector Berlioz puts a unique spin on the familiar tale of Faust, the scholar/scientist who sold his soul to the devil in exchange for love and knowledge. The story is told in 8 episodic scenes, in Cirque Du Soleil style.

Episode 5

Massenet: Thaïs

Sat, Dec 20, 2008138 mins

Missionary Athaniel converts the prostitute Thais to Christianity; he even leads her to enter a nunnery. The convent door slams shut: No Men Allowed. Oh no, cries Athaniel, I've fallen in love with her. Too bad, so sad. Meditate on that.

Episode 6

Puccini: La rondine

Thu, Feb 19, 2026

Magda, mistress to wealthy Rambaldo, wants romance with a younger man. She moves in with Ruggero until his cash runs out.

Episode 7

Gluck: Orfeo ed Euridice

Gluck's first "reform" opera, meaning the music of the baroque era with its embellishments and improvisations is replaced with a simpler and more direct vocal style. This production is modernized and includes a host of celebrities in Hades.

Episode 8

Donizetti: Lucia di Lammermoor

Lucia's nerves are already rattled, she's seeing ghosts and all. When her brother forces her to marry and her real boyfriend shows up at the wedding, that does it - she goes right over the edge. Sorry Arturo, she's just not that into you.

Episode 9

Puccini: Madama Butterfly

Sat, Mar 7, 2009173 mins

On shore leave in Japan, Lt. Pinkerton is ready for action and finds it in a wedding broker. Cio-Cio-San naively believes the marriage is real. Wait until the real Mrs. Pinkerton hears about this: there's sure to be a Little Trouble ahead.

Episode 10

Bellini: La sonnambula

Sat, Mar 21, 2009148 mins

Amina sleep-walks her way into the bedroom of a nobleman who is staying at the village inn. Enraged and humiliated, her fiancé breaks the engagement. The nobleman attests to her innocence, and Amina offers a demonstration of sleep-walking.

Episode 11

Rossini: La Cenerentola

Sat, May 9, 2009

A loose adaptation of the Cinderella tale without the magic.

Episode 12

The Audition

An engrossing behind-the-scenes quasi-documentary as 10 hopefuls vie for a spot on the Met's roster.