The Metropolitan Opera HD Live Season 7 Episodes

Episode 1

Donizetti: L'elisir d'amore

Country bumpkin Nemorino is desperately in love with Adina, but she barely gives him the time of day. She seems to be smitten with the handsome braggart, Captain Belcore. Perhaps Dr. Dulcamara can spare a magic cure to save the day.

Episode 2

Verdi: Otello

The villain Iago plots to ruin the Moorish general Otello. Verdi had to be coaxed out of retirement by his publisher for a new opera; Verdi agreed after meeting librettist Boito, and the two of them settled on Shakespeare for their subject.

Episode 3

Thomas Adès: The Tempest

Sat, Nov 10, 2012142 mins

Composer Ades employs a variety of musical styles, from dissonance to tonality, even a passacaglia for voices. The story follows Shakespeare's play: the banished magician Prospero regains his humanity after outsiders visit his island.

Episode 4

Mozart: La clemenza di Tito

186 mins

An old-fashioned opera even in Mozart's day, but one that pleased the aristocrats. A plot to murder Roman Emperor Tito nearly succeeds, the Capitol burns, the traitors are caught, Tito forgives all. Give Mozart a break, he needed the cash.

Episode 5

Verdi: Un Ballo in Maschera

214 mins

The Governor has not been carrying on a secret dalliance with best friend's wife, regardless of how matters appear. No matter, best friend Renato is convinced, and there's no talking him out of it. The truth will be unmasked at the Ball.

Episode 6

Verdi: Aida

Sat, Dec 15, 2012

A reprise of 2009's performance with a new cast: in her Met debut, Monastyrska is a revelation as the titular princess; Alagna acquits himself well as her love interest. Aida is torn between loyalty to her country and her love for Radames.

Episode 7

Berlioz: Les Troyens

Berlioz' last large-scale work was an attempt to rise above what he viewed as shallow, crowd pleasing "grand" operas in vogue at the time. This is his retelling of nothing less than the Trojan Wars of antiquity; the style hints at Wagner.

Episode 8

Donizetti: Maria Stuarda

Sun, Jul 14, 2013161 mins

Accusations and hostilities are hurled back and forth between Mary, Queen of Scots, and Elizabeth.

Episode 9

Verdi: Rigoletto

198 mins

Set in rat-pack Las Vegas. Duke is Sinatra; Rigoletto is Don Rickles. Rigoletto owns a condo; he holds the elevator for the courtiers. Later on, when he finds a stranger's corpse in his car-trunk, why doesn't he drive her to the hospital?

Episode 10

Wagner: Parsifal

Sat, Mar 2, 2013

Many arguments have been made about Wagner's last opera: claims of racism, anti-Semitism, misogyny. The story is simple, really: the Knights who were supposed to guard the Holy Relics managed to lose one; now God wants it back, or else.

Episode 11

Zandonai: Francesca da Rimini

Sat, Mar 16, 2013

Francesca waits to be fetched to her wedding; her new husband's brother arrives, and they fall instantly in love. The groom happens to be a fierce and remorseless warrior, fresh from battle. Moral: don't sleep with your brother's new bride.

Episode 12

Handel: Giulio Cesare

284 mins

Julius Caesar's visit to Cleopatra in Egypt.