The Met: Live in HD Kicks Off on Saturday, October 10 at Empire Theatre

A New Production of Puccini's Tosca
- Tickets for 2009-10 Season On Sale Now

HALIFAX, Sept. 25 /CNW/ - Tickets for the fourth season of The Met: Live in HD, the Metropolitan Opera's popular, award-winning series of live transmissions in movie theaters around the world, are now on sale at select Empire Theatres locations in Atlantic Canada. The 2009-10 season, featuring nine live opera transmissions, kicks off on Saturday, October 10 at 2:00 p.m. AT with a new production of Puccini's Tosca starring Karita Mattila. The production, directed by Luc Bondy in his house debut and conducted by Met Music Director James Levine, features Marcelo alvarez and George Gagnidze in the other leading roles.

More than 900 theaters in 42 countries around the world are participating in The Met: Live in HD this season. A record number of more than 1.8 million Live in HD tickets were sold last season.

Four other new productions are featured in the series, including Offenbach's Les Contes d'Hoffmann starring Joseph Calleja in the title role, with Anna Netrebko and Alan Held; Bizet's Carmen starring Elina Garanca and Roberto Alagna; Natalie Dessay and Simon Keenlyside in Thomas's Hamlet; and Rossini's Armida starring Renée Fleming. The HD season also includes Verdi's Aida with Violeta Urmana, Dolora Zajick, and Johan Botha; Maria Guleghina and Marcello Giordani in Puccini's Turandot; Richard Strauss's Der Rosenkavalier with Fleming and Susan Graham; and Verdi's Simon Boccanegra starring Placido Domingo, singing the title role for the first time at the Met. James Levine leads four of the HD transmissions. Complete casting and details of the season's Live in HD performances follows below.

All nine high-definition productions will be shown live worldwide on Saturdays through May 1 with an additional Saturday Encore presentation for each. Tickets are available online and at participating theatre box offices. For complete details visit www.empiretheatres.com/met.
The Met: Live in HD series is made possible by a generous grant from the Neubauer Family Foundation. Bloomberg L.P. is the global corporate sponsor of The Met: Live in HD. The HD broadcasts are supported by Toll Brothers, America's luxury home builder(R).

The Met: Live in HD has expanded its distribution in the 2009-10 season to include 42 countries. New countries joining the Live in HD network this season include Bulgaria, Chile, Lithuania, Malta, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, and Uruguay. The Met: Live in HD returns in the following locations: Argentina (Fundacion Beethoven), Australia (presented by Sharmill Films), Austria (presented by ClasArt), Belgium (Kinepolis), Brazil (Movie MBZ), Colombia (Cine Colombia), Costa Rica (Centro Cultural), Croatia (presented by Aero Films), the Czech Republic (presented by Aero Films), Denmark (Nordisk Film Biografer); Estonia (Forum Cinemas), Finland (Finnkino), France (presented by CielEcran), Germany (presented by ClasArt), Hungary (presented by Aero Films), Iceland (Sam Films), Ireland (presented by Opera Ireland), Japan (Shochiku), Latvia (Forum Cinemas), Luxembourg (Utopia), Mexico (Auditorio Nacional), the Netherlands (Pathé, CineMec Ede, and Foroxity Film Arena), New Zealand (Rialto Distribution), Norway (Bergen Kino, Oslo Kino and Tromso Film Festival), Peru (Radio Filharmonia), Poland (Arthur Rubenstein Philharmonic and Aero Films), Romania (presented by Aero Films), Sweden (FHP Sweden), Switzerland (CielEcran), South Africa (Ster Kinekor Theatres), the United Kingdom (City Screen/Picturehouse), and several UK independent movie theaters and performing arts organizations.

The Met: Live in HD 2009-10 Season

Saturday, October 10, 2009
TOSCA
(2:00 p.m. AT / 2:30 p.m. NL)
Encore October 31 -

A new production of Puccini's Tosca by Luc Bondy in his house debut, starring Karita Mattila in her first performance of the title role outside her native Finland, and Marcelo alvarez as Cavaradossi. George Gagnidze sings the role of Scarpia. James Levine conducts.
HD host: Susan Graham
NEW PRODUCTION

Saturday, October 24, 2009
AIDA
(2:00 p.m. AT / 2:30 p.m. NL)
Encore November 31 -

Daniele Gatti returns for the first time in 14 years to conduct a cast of powerful voices in Verdi's Aida. Violeta Urmana sings the title role, while Dolora Zajick returns in one of her most acclaimed portrayals as the Egyptian princess Amneris. Johan Botha is Radamès and Carlo Guelfi sings Amonasro.
HD host: Renee Fleming

Saturday, November 7, 2009
TURANDOT
(2:00 p.m. AT / 2:30 p.m. NL)
Encore December 5 -

Franco Zeffirelli's classic production of Puccini's Turandot features the Met role debuts of Maria Guleghina in the title role, Marcello Giordani as Calàf, Samuel Ramey as Timur, and Marina Poplavskaya as Liù. Conductor Andris Nelsons makes his Met debut.

Saturday, December 19, 2009
LES CONTES D'HOFFMANN
(2:00 p.m. AT / 2:30 p.m. NL)
Encore January 23 -

Bartlett Sher, whose staging of Rossini's Il Barbiere di Siviglia was a hit two seasons ago, returns to direct his second Met production: Offenbach's Les Contes d'Hoffmann, conducted by James Levine. Joseph Calleja stars as Hoffmann, with Anna Netrebko as Antonia, Ekaterina Gubanova as Giulietta, Kate Lindsey as Nicklausse, Kathleen Kim as Olympia, and Alan Held as the four villains.
NEW PRODUCTION

Saturday, January 9, 2010
DER ROSENKAVALIER
(2:00 p.m. AT / 2:30 p.m. NL)
Encore March 6 -

James Levine conducts a stellar cast led by Renée Fleming as the Marschallin and Susan Graham as Octavian. Eric Cutler is the Italian Singer, Kristinn Sigmundsson sings the role of Baron Ochs, and Christine Schäfer is Sophie.
HD host: Placido Domingo

Saturday, January 16, 2010
CARMEN
(2:00 p.m. AT / 2:30 p.m. NL)
Encore March 13 -

The new Carmen, starring Elina Garanca, who sang the title role of La Cenerentola at the Met last spring to great acclaim, will also feature the debuts of director Richard Eyre and conductor Yannick Nézet-Séguin. Roberto Alagna is the soldier Don José, Barbara Frittoli is Micaëla, and Mariusz Kwiecien is the bullfighter Escamillo.
HD host: Renée Fleming
NEW PRODUCTION

Saturday, February 6, 2010
SIMON BOCCANEGRA
(2:00 p.m. AT / 2:30 p.m. NL)
Encore March 20 -

Four decades into a legendary Met career, Placido Domingo makes history by singing the baritone title role of Verdi's Simon Boccanegra, conducted by James Levine. Adrianne Pieczonka, Marcello Giordani, and James Morris co-star.
HD host: Renée Fleming

Saturday, March 27, 2010
HAMLET
(2:00 p.m. AT / 2:30 p.m. NL)
Encore April 24 -

Last performed at the Met in 1897, Ambroise Thomas's Hamlet will be seen in a new production by Patrice Caurier and Moshe Leiser, conducted by Louis Langrée and starring Simon Keenlyside in the title role and Natalie Dessay as Ophélie. With Jennifer Larmore as Gertrude, Toby Spence as Laërtes and James Morris as Claudius.
HD host: Renée Fleming
NEW PRODUCTION

Saturday, May 1, 2010
ARMIDA
(2:00 p.m. AT / 2:30 p.m. NL)
Encore May 22 -

The season's final new production features Renée Fleming in Rossini's bel canto tour de force Armida, directed by Mary Zimmerman and conducted by Riccardo Frizza. Also starring Lawrence Brownlee, Bruce Ford, José Manuel Zapata, Barry Banks, and Kobie van Rensburg. HD host: Deborah Voigt
NEW PRODUCTION

The Live in HD series was recently honored with a prestigious 2008 Peabody Award for its "vividly designed, smartly annotated productions of Hansel and Gretel, Doctor Atomic, Peter Grimes and other operas. The Met used state-of-the-art digital technology to reinvent presentation of a classic art form."

The Met won a special Emmy Award in January 2009 for "advancing technology through ongoing, live, global transmission of high-definition programming to movie theaters."

About Empire Theatres Limited

Empire Theatres Limited with its corporate headquarters in Stellarton, NS and regional offices in Halifax, NS, Toronto, ON and Calgary, AB, is a 100% owned subsidiary of Empire Company Limited. Empire Theatres owns and operates 50 theatres, with 374 screens across Canada (including one IMAX Theatre in Halifax) from Newfoundland to British Columbia.
Empire Theatres is Canada's second largest and fastest growing film exhibition company providing an exciting out-of-home entertainment experience including traditional film exhibition as well as other content using its digital and satellite capabilities.
With approximately 2,500 employees, Empire Theatres provides excellent employment opportunities for the youth of Canada in an exciting and energetic industry.

Get Your Backstage Pass to The Metropolitan Opera's The Audition at Cineplex Entertainment Theatres

Get Your Backstage Pass to The Metropolitan Opera’s

The Audition at Cineplex Entertainment Theatres

Advance tickets now available

TORONTO, ON, May 6, 2009 (CGX.UN) – Cineplex Entertainment is pleased to present The Metropolitan Opera’s The Audition, a feature length documentary that provides a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to make it in one of the most difficult professions in the performing arts. The Audition will be shown in High Definition (HD) and digital surround sound on Saturday, June 6^th at 1 pm EST/12 pm CST/11 am MST/10 am PST and Monday, June 15^th at 7 pm local time at select Cineplex Entertainment theatres across the country.

“We are excited to offer our guests The Audition, an addition to the acclaimed MET Opera: Live in HD series that guests have enjoyed at our theatres across the country for the past three years,” said Pat Marshall, Vice President, Communications and Investor Relations, Cineplex Entertainment. “The Audition offers an exclusive backstage pass into the intense pressures the competitors face as they try to launch an opera career with the Met. Our regular Met opera guests will love the drama and excitement in this production.”

Directed by award-winning filmmaker Susan Froemke, The Audition looks at the intense pressures young opera singers face as they struggle to succeed in one of the most difficult professions in the performing arts. The feature-length documentary takes you behind the scenes at the Metropolitan Opera’s National Council Auditions, where each year thousands of hopefuls compete for a cash prize, the chance to sing on the Met stage and the opportunity to launch a major operatic career. The film covers the dramatic week leading up to the finals of the 2007 auditions, focusing on three very different tenor contestants: Michael Fabiano, a fiery 22-year-old grappling with his inner demons; Alek Shrader, a 25-year-old with movie star looks who attempts to sing nine high Cs in the fiendishly difficult aria that made Pavarotti a star and Ryan Smith, who at age 30, and with little formal training, is pursuing his dream of an operatic career. The Audition also includes a 20 minute panel discussion taped recently at The Met with Renée Fleming on the panel.

Advance tickets are now available online at www.cineplex.com/events as well as at participating theatre box offices. Admission for seniors and children ages 3 – 12 is $12.95 + tax and general admission is $14.95 + tax.

Cineplex Entertainment will present The Audition at the following select theatres across the country:

BRITISH COLUMBIA

SilverCity Coquitlam Cinemas 170 Schoolhouse Street Coquitlam, BC	SilverCity Riverport Cinemas 14211 Entertainment Way Richmond, BC
SilverCity Victoria Cinemas 3130 Tillicum Road Victoria, BC	Scotiabank Theatre Vancouver 900 Burrard Street Vancouver, BC
Galaxy Cinemas Nanaimo 213-4750 Rutherford Road Nanaimo, BC	Famous Players Orchard Plaza Cinemas 160-1876 Cooper Road Kelowna, BC
Colossus Langley Cinemas 20090 91A Avenue Langley, BC SilverCity Mission Cinemas 32555 London Avenue Mission, BC Cineplex Odeon Victoria Cinemas 780 Yates Avenue Victoria, BC Cineplex Odeon Aberdeen Mall Cinemas 700-1320 TransCanada Highway Kamloops, BC	Cineplex Odeon Park & Tilford Cinemas 200-333 Brooksbank Avenue North Vancouver, BC Famous Players 7 Cinemas 2306 Highway 6 Vernon, BC Famous Players 6 Cinemas 172-1600 Fifth Avenue Prince George, BC SilverCity Metropolis Cinemas 4700 Kingsway Avenue Burnaby, BC

ALBERTA

Cineplex Odeon Grand Prairie Cinemas 10330-109th Street Grand Prairie, AB Galaxy Cinemas Medicine Hat 3292 Dunmore Road SE Medicine Hat, AB Galaxy Cinemas Lethbridge 501-1st Avenue SW Lethbridge, AB Scotiabank Theatre Edmonton 8882-170 Street Edmonton, AB Cineplex Odeon Crowfoot Crossing Cinemas 91 Crowfoot Terrace NW Calgary, AB Cineplex Odeon Eau Claire Marketplace Cinemas 90-200 Barclay Parade SW Calgary, AB

Cineplex Odeon South Edmonton Cinemas 1525-99th Street NW Edmonton, AB Scotiabank Theatre Chinook 6455 MacLeod Trail SW Calgary, AB Galaxy Cinemas Red Deer 357-37400 Highway #2 Red Deer, AB Famous Players Westhills Cinemas 165 Stewart Green SW Calgary, AB Cineplex Odeon North Edmonton Cinemas 14231 137th Avenue NW Edmonton, AB

MANITOBA

SilverCity Polo Park Cinemas 815 St. James Street Winnipeg, MB

SilverCity St. Vital Cinemas 160-1255 St. Mary’s Road Winnipeg, MB

SASKATCHEWAN

Galaxy Cinemas Regina 420 McCarthy Boulevard N Regina, SK

Galaxy Cinemas Saskatoon 347 2nd Avenue S Saskatoon, SK

ONTARIO

Scotiabank Theatre Toronto 259 Richmond Street W Toronto, ON Cineplex Odeon Sheppard Grande Cinemas 4861 Yonge Street Toronto, ON SilverCity Fairview Mall Cinemas 1800 Sheppard Avenue E Toronto, ON Cineplex Odeon Queensway Cinemas 1025 The Queensway Etobicoke, ON Colossus Vaughan Cinemas 3555 Highway 7 W Woodbridge, ON Galaxy Cinemas Barrie 72 Commerce Park Drive Barrie, ON Galaxy Cinemas Guelph 485 Woodlawn Road W Guelph, ON SilverCity Oakville Cinemas 3531 Wyecroft Road Oakville, ON Cineplex Odeon Niagara Square Cinemas 7555 Montrose Road Niagara Falls, ON SilverCity London Cinemas 1680 Richmond Street London, ON SilverCity Ancaster Cinemas 771 Golf Link Road Ancaster, ON Galaxy Cinemas Sault Ste. Marie 293 Bay Street Sault Ste. Marie, ON SilverCity Burlington Cinemas 1250 Brant Street Burlington, ON Galaxy Cinemas Brantford 300 King George Road Brantford, ON Galaxy Cinemas Brockville 2399 Parkedale Avenue Brockville, ON Galaxy Cinemas Cambridge 355 Hespeler Road Cambridge, ON Galaxy Cinemas North Bay 300 Lakeshore Drive North Bay, ON Galaxy Cinemas St. Thomas 417 Wellington Street St. Thomas, ON Famous Players Lambton 9 Cinemas 1450 London Road Sarnia, ON Coliseum Ottawa Cinemas 3090 Carling Avenue Ottawa, ON Cineplex Odeon South Keys Cinemas 2214 Bank Street Ottawa, ON

Coliseum Scarborough Cinemas 300 Borough Drive Scarborough, ON The Beaches Cinemas – Alliance Cinemas 1651 Queen Street E Toronto, ON SilverCity Yonge-Eglinton Cinemas 2300 Yonge Street Toronto, ON SilverCity Richmond Hill Cinemas 8725 Yonge Street Richmond Hill, ON Coliseum Mississauga Cinemas 309 Rathburn Road W Mississauga, ON SilverCity Brampton Cinemas 50 Great Lakes Drive Brampton, ON Cineplex Odeon Oshawa Cinemas 1351 Grandview Street N Oshawa, ON Galaxy Cinemas Peterborough 320 Water Street Peterborough, ON Cineplex Odeon Gardiners Road Cinemas 636 Gardiners Road Kingston, ON Galaxy Cinemas Waterloo 550 King Street N Waterloo, ON Cineplex Odeon Devonshire Mall Cinemas 3100 Howard Avenue Windsor, ON SilverCity Sudbury Cinemas 355 Barrydowne Road Sudbury, ON SilverCity Newmarket Cinemas 18151 Yonge Street Newmarket, ON Galaxy Cinemas Cornwall 1325 Second Street E Cornwall, ON Famous Players Belleville 8 Cinemas 160 Bell Boulevard Belleville, ON Galaxy Cinemas Collingwood 6 Mountain Road Collingwood, ON Galaxy Cinemas Midland 9226 County Road 93 Midland, ON Galaxy Cinemas Orangeville 85 Fifth Avenue Orangeville, ON Galaxy Cinemas Owen Sound 1020 10th Street Owen Sound, ON SilverCity Thunder Bay Cinemas 850 North May Street Thunder Bay, ON SilverCity Gloucester Cinemas 2385 City Park Drive Gloucester, ON

QUEBEC

Starcité Montreal Cinemas 4825 ave. Pierre De Coubertin Montreal, QC Cineplex Odeon Brossard Cinemas 9350 boul. Leduc Brossard, QC Coliseum Kirkland Cinemas 3200 rue Jean Yves Kirkland, QC Galaxy Cinemas Sherbrooke 4204 rue Bertrand Rock Forest, QC Cineplex Odeon Beauport Cinemas 825 rue Clemenceau Beauport, QC Galaxy Cinemas Victoriaville 1121 Jutras Est Victoriaville, QC Galaxy Cinemas Fleur-de-Lys 4520 boul. des Récollets Trois Rivieres, QC

Scotiabank Theatre Montreal 977 rue Ste-Catherine O Montreal, QC Cineplex Odeon Ste. Foy Cinemas 1200 boul. Duplessis St. Foy, QC Colossus Laval Cinemas 2800 rue Cosmodôme Laval, QC Gatineau 9 Cinemas 120 boul. de l’Hôpital Gatineau, QC Cineplex Odeon Latin Quarter Cinemas 350 rue Emery Montreal, QC Cineplex Odeon Boucherville Cinemas 20 boul. de Montagne Boucherville, QC

OTHER LOCATIONS

Capitol Theatre 4920 - 52 Street Yellowknife, NWT Cinema St. Eustache 305 Avenue Mathers St. Eustache, QC Max Cameron Theatre 5400 Marine Avenue Powell River, BC Cinema Twin 101-1st Avenue NE Swift Current, BC Cinema Jonquierre 2445, rue St. Dominique Jonquierre, QC

Capitol Theatre 20 Queen Street Port Hope, ON Salmar Classic Theatre 360 Alexander Street Salmon Arm, BC Art Spring Theatre 100 Jackson Avenue Salt Spring Island, BC Meaford Opera House 1-12 Nelson Street E Meaford, ON

About Cineplex Entertainment LP

As the largest motion picture exhibitor in Canada, Cineplex Entertainment LP owns, leases or has a joint-venture interest in 130 theatres with 1,328 screens serving more than 63.5 million guests annually. Headquartered in Toronto, Canada, Cineplex Entertainment operates theatres from British Columbia to Quebec and is the largest exhibitor of digital, 3D and IMAX projection technologies in the country. Proudly Canadian and with a workforce of more than 9,000, the company operates the following top tier brands: Cineplex Odeon, Galaxy, Famous Players, Colossus, Coliseum, SilverCity, Cinema City and Scotiabank Theatres. The units of Cineplex Galaxy Income Fund, which owns approximately 99.5% of Cineplex Entertainment LP, are traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange (symbol CGX.UN). For more information, visit www.cineplex.com.

The Metropolitan Opera Offers Free Weekend Preview of Met Player beginning Friday, May 1

The Metropolitan Opera Offers Free Weekend Preview of

Met Player beginning Friday, May 1

Subscription Service Features Met’s Award-Winning High Definition Productions and Extensive Audio Visual Catalog

Many Historic Video and Audio Performances Available for the First Time Since Their Original Broadcast

New York, NY (April 28, 2008) – The Metropolitan Opera will offer a free weekend of unlimited access to Met Player, the subscription service that makes much of the company’s extensive video and audio catalog of full-length performances available to the public online, in exceptional, state-of-the-art quality. The free preview begins at 5pm ET on Friday, May 1, and runs through midnight on Sunday, May 3. During this time, users logging into Met Player will have access to the entire collection of more than 200 audio and video performances, including 20 of the company’s acclaimed HD productions from the first three seasons of The Met: Live in HD series. HD titles recently added to the Met Player catalog include this season’s transmissions of Massenet’s Thaïs starring Renée Fleming and Thomas Hampson, Puccini’s La Rondine featuring Angela Gheorghiu and Roberto Alagna, and Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor with Anna Netrebko and Piotr Beczala. Met Player also features the wide range of Music Director James Levine’s work, from Mozart’s comic masterpiece Cosi fan Tutte to Wagner’s epic Ring cycle.

Recent upgrades to Met Player include the addition of multi-language subtitles (French, German, and Spanish) to the current season’s HD titles; English subtitles are available for all videos (but can be turned off if preferred).

Met Player offers a wealth of video performances to choose from, including Puccini’s La Bohème with Renata Scotto and Luciano Pavarotti (1977), Plácido Domingo in Verdi’s Otello (1995), and Verdi’s La Forza del Destino with Leontyne Price (1984), as well as the recent HD live shows from the 2006-07 and 2007-08 seasons, including Natalie Dessay and Juan Diego Flórez in Donizetti’s La Fille du Regiment. Some of the initial offerings have never been seen since their original television broadcasts: Mascagni’s Cavalleria Rusticana and Leoncavallo’s Pagliacci with Tatiana Troyanos, Teresa Stratas, and Domingo (1978); Price’s legendary farewell performance in Verdi’s Aida (1985); and Tschaikovsky’s The Queen of Spades with Galina Gorchakova and Domingo (1999).

The legendary audio performances include Bizet’s Carmen starring Rosa Ponselle (1937), as well as other Met radio performances from such celebrated artists as Carlo Bergonzi, Jussi Bjoerling, Maria Callas, Franco Corelli, Mario del Monaco, Lauritz Melchior, Zinka Milanov, Birgit Nilsson, Joan Sutherland, Renata Tebaldi, and Richard Tucker.

In order to register for the free weekend of Met Player, users must have an active username and password for the Met website. New users can set this up by visiting the “Register” page at metopera.org and providing basic contact information. No credit card will be required. Additional information will be available on the Met website during this free period to assist customers.

Subscription fees are priced at $14.99 per month or $149.99 for a yearly plan. As a special benefit for Met members who contribute at the $125 level or above, a six-month introductory package is available for $49.99. Individual purchases will cost $4.99 for HD videos and $3.99 for an audio performance or non-HD video; these individual purchases may be played in a six-hour period within 30 days. Met Player will provide a free downloadable audio and video website player with any rental or subscription order. A one week free trial subscription will be available to anyone after registration.

About Met Player

The Met is the first performing arts organization in the world to present such a wide variety of performances in such high quality resolution, available whenever its users wish to see or hear them. The Met developed the new service over the past year, working with a consortium of new technology companies –Move Networks, mPoint, PermissionTV, and POP – adapting recently developed technologies to ensure superior picture and sound quality for the Met’s long-form programming.

For an optimal viewing experience, a multi-core processor, with at least 1GB of memory and 32MB of video RAM, is recommended.

Utilizing the technology of Met Player, users have the option of hooking up their computers to new HD TV sets and home-stereo sound systems, delivering the Met’s catalog in high quality. The cleanly-designed, simple, easy-to-navigate interface on the Met’s website will allow users to find their favorite performances quickly.

Met Opera singers in "Fugitives"

New York Festival of Song Presents
Fugitives
Concert, Theater, and Film Music by Composers Fleeing Hitler's Europe:
Kurt Weill, Erich Korngold, and Many Others

November 18 and 20 at Merkin Concert Hall

Artists: Metropolitan Opera's Joseph Kaiser and Kate Lindsey, pianist/host Steven Blier

New York Festival of Song, whose recent A Bernstein/Bolcom Celebration was performed with "Comic and dramatic flair," (The New York Times) presents Fugitives, songs by composers who fled Hitler's Europe, on November 18 and 20 at the newly restored Merkin Concert Hall. The program will feature music from Broadway, the concert stage and Berlin cabaret by Kurt Weill, Erich Korngold, Alexander Zemlinsky, Arnold Schoenberg and many others.


Fugitives will be sung by two of the Metropolitan Opera's rising young stars. Tenor Joseph Kaiser currently appears as Narraboth in Salome and was last season's Roméo opposite Anna Netrebko. Mezzo-soprano Kate Lindsey will be featured in Met productions of The Magic Flute, Rusalka and The Ring Cycle, and makes her guest artist debut with the New York Philharmonic in a concert performance of L'enfant et les sortilèges, conducted by Lorin Maazel. Once again, New York Festival Of Song Artistic Director Steven Blier, a "national treasure when it comes to the art of song," (The New York Times) will be the pianist/host for the evening.

Curtain time for both concerts is 8 PM. Tickets for Fugitives are $40 - $55. Call (212) 501-3330, or visit www.kaufman-center.org. Merkin Concert Hall at Kaufman Center is at 129 West 67tg Street, New York, NY 10023. There are also a limited number of $15 student tickets available by calling (646) 230-8380. For more information about New York Festival Of Song (NYFOS), please visit their website at www.nyfos.org.

Program

Altdeutsches Minnelied (Old German Love Song) Alexander von Zemlinsky
Meeraugen (Eyes of the Sea) Zemlinsky
Gefasster Abschied (Calm Departure) Erich Korngold
Sommer (Summer) Korngold
Unendliche Liebe (Eternal Love) Franz Schreker
Rosentod (The Death of Roses) Schreker
The Lottery Agent's Tango (from Silbersee) Kurt Weill
Waldsonne (Sun in the Forest) Arnold Schoenberg
Erwartung (Expectation) Schoenberg
Wenn der alte Motor wieder takt (When the old car starts
up again) Friedrich Hollaender
Die Ballade von Wasserad (The Song of the Water Wheel) Hanns Eisler
Ändere die Welt, sie braucht es
(The World is in Need of Change) Eisler

O schöne Hand, Kelch, dessen Duft Musik  (Oh lovely                                      Viktor Ullmann hand, chalice of music's scent)      

Fünf Lieder (Five Songs) Hans Krása
Ihr Mädchen seid wie die Gärten (Your Girl is like a Garden)
An die Brüder (To a Brother)
Mach, dass etwas uns geschieht! (Pray that something happens to us!)
Die Liebe (Love)
Vice versa
The Sleepless Lady Kurt Tucholsky

How Can You Tell an American,
from Knickerbocker Holiday Weill
O mistress mine Korngold
Elend (Misery) Zemlinsky
Black Market Frederick Hollaender
Love Song, from Love Life Weill
Wie lange noch? (How much longer?) Weill
Arizona Marsch, from Arizona Lady Emmerich Kálmán

(Program subject to change)


Canadian-born tenor JOSEPH KAISER starred as Tamino in the Kenneth Branagh film adaptation of The Magic Flute. This season he will make two highly anticipated debuts: at the Los Angeles Opera as Tamino under the baton of James Conlon, and at the Bayerische Staatsoper in Jen fa. He returns to the Salzburg Festival as Septimius in a new Christoph Loy production of Handel's Theodora. His concert schedule includes performances of the Berlioz Requiem under Marek Janowski, Beethoven's Symphony No. 9 with Christoph von Dohnányi and the Boston Symphony Orchestra, and Mendelssohn's Elijah with Yannick Nézet-Séguin and the Orchestre Métropolitain du Grand Montréal. Mr. Kaiser has appeared at the Caramoor Festival in a joint program with Lorraine Hunt Lieberson, which was presented under the auspices of the New York Festival of Song (available on Bridge Records), in Chicago at the Chicago Humanities Festival, in Montreal with the André Turp Society, and on the Debut Series of the National Arts Centre in Ottawa.

KATE LINDSEY made her debut this summer at the Tanglewood Festival in a concert version of Les Troyens conducted by James Levine, and appeared in two other chamber music concerts at the festival. Other recent engagements have included appearances at the Metropolitan Opera as Cherubino in Le nozze di Figaro (opposite Bryn Terfel) and Stéphano in Roméo et Juliette (with Mr. Kaiser and Anna Netrebko); debuts with the Boston Lyric Opera as Cherubino, the Boston Symphony Orchestra in a new commission by John Harbison conducted by James Levine, the Cleveland Orchestra in performances of Haydn's Harmoniemesse conducted by Franz Welser-Möst, and the Met Chamber Ensemble in Zankel Hall. She also appeared as Rosina in Il barbiere di Siviglia and Stéphano at the Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, and Angelina in La Cenerentola at the Wolf Trap Opera.


NYFOS Artistic Director STEVEN BLIER also enjoys an eminent career as an accompanist and vocal coach. Among the many artists he has partnered in recital are Renée Fleming, Cecilia Bartoli, Lorraine Hunt Lieberson, Susan Graham, Frederica von Stade, Jessye Norman and Samuel Ramey. He has performed throughout North America and Europe, including recitals at Carnegie Hall, La Scala, Milan, and a Live From Lincoln Center telecast. Mr. Blier co-founded the New York Festival of Song (NYFOS) in 1988 with Michael Barrett. Since the Festival's inception he has programmed, performed, translated and annotated over one hundred vocal recitals with repertoire spanning the entire range of song. His discography includes the premiere recording of Leonard Bernstein's Arias and Barcarolles (Koch International), which won a Grammy Award; the NYFOS discs of Blitzstein, Gershwin, and German Lieder (Unquiet Peace); Gershwin's Lady Be Good! (Nonesuch Records); four albums of songs by Charles Ives in partnership with baritone William Sharp (Albany Records); first recordings of music by Busoni and Borodin with cellist Dorothy Lawson (Koch International); and Spanish Love Songs with Joseph Kaiser and the late Lorraine Hunt Lieberson (Bridge Records). In December, Bridge will release the original cast recording of Bastianello / Lucrezia, the acclaimed John Musto and William Bolcom operas with libretti by Mark Campbell, commissioned and premiered by NYFOS.

Met Opera - Billets en vente ce vendredi

Les diffusions du « Metropolitan Opera :

en direct et en haute définition » sont de retour

au grand écran dans les cinémas Cineplex Divertissement

Les billets pour la saison 2008-2009 seront mis en prévente ce vendredi

Toronto, ON (CGX.UN) – 20 août 2008 – Cineplex Divertissement commencera la prévente de billets pour l'événement de divertissement le plus couru de l'année, les diffusions du « Metropolitan Opera : en direct et en haute définition », le 22 août 2008. Puisque la réponse des amateurs d'opéra a été extraordinaire au cours des deux premières saisons, les invités auront maintenant l'occasion d'apprécier encore plus de diffusions en direct et en haute définition et avec son ambiophonique Dolby dans les cinémas Cineplex Divertissement participants partout au pays. Le nombre d'opéras présentés en direct pour la saison 2008-2009 est passé à onze et il y aura dix rediffusions, dès le 22 septembre 2008 alors que la soirée du Gala d'ouverture sera diffusée en direct du Lincoln Center à New York, la salle attitrée du Met.

« Dès le début, les diffusions du "Metropolitan Opera : en direct et en haute définition" ont connu beaucoup de succès, et ce, au-delà de nos attentes. La popularité de la série ne se dément pas année après année », a affirmé Par Marshall, Vice-présidente, communications et relations avec les investisseurs chez Cineplex Divertissement. « Cette année, nous avons ajouté de nouveaux cinémas à notre liste déjà étendue afin de répondre à la très grande demande. Nous offrons également à nos invités l'occasion de se procurer une variété de forfaits d'abonnement. Les forfaits et billets individuels peuvent être achetés à l'avance, permettant ainsi à nos invités de se procurer des billets pour les opéras de leur choix. »

Les billets seront en vente à compter du vendredi 22 août, en ligne sur www.cineplex.com et à la billetterie des cinémas participants. Le prix d'entrée s'échelonne de 12,95 $ à 16,95 $ (taxes en sus) pour les enfants de 3 à 12 ans; il est de 18,95 $ (taxes en sus) pour les aînés et de 21,95 $ (taxes en sus) pour les 13 ans et plus.

Les abonnements annuels sont en vente uniquement à la billetterie des cinémas participants et ne peuvent être achetés en ligne. Le prix du forfait pour les dix opéras est de 186,58 $ (taxes en sus). Il est également possible de se procurer un forfait pour cinq opéras au prix de 98,78 $ (taxes en sus) ou un forfait pour trois représentations au prix de 62,56 $ (taxes en sus). Nous offrons aussi des tarifs pour les groupes de 20 personnes et plus au coût de 16,95 $ par personne (taxes en sus). Pour de plus amples renseignements au sujet des réservations de groupe, prière de communiquer avec le 1 800 313-4461.

Le 22 septembre, le rideau se lèvera de nouveau sur l'opéra dans les cinémas Cineplex Divertissement sélectionnés partout au Canada. Ceux-ci présenteront les productions suivantes en direct de New York :

Lundi 22 septembre 2008 18 h 30 (HNE) Soirée du Gala d'ouverture (avec Renée Fleming)	Samedi 11 octobre 2008 13 h (HNE) Salome de Strauss	Samedi 8 novembre 2008 13 h (HNE) Doctor Atomic de Adams
Samedi 22 novembre 2008 13 h (HNE) La Damnation de Faust de Berlioz	Samedi 20 décembre 2008 12 h (HNE) Thaïs de Massenet	Samedi 10 janvier 2009 13 h (HNE) La Rondine de Puccini
Samedi 24 janvier 2009 13 h (HNE) Orfeo ed Euridice de Gluck	Samedi 7 février 2009 13 h (HNE) Lucia di Lammermoor de Donizetti	Samedi 7 mars 2009 13 h (HNE) Madama Butterfly de Puccini
Samedi 21 mars 2009 13 h (HNE) La Sonnambula de Bellini	Samedi 9 mai 2009 12 h 30 (HNE) La Cenerentola de Rossini

À noter, cette année, la présentation d'une production créée et conçue par une compagnie de chez nous. En effet, le 22 novembre 2008, les amateurs d'opéra auront la chance de voir et d'entendre La Damnation de Faust, opéra de Berlioz, dans une mise en scène de Robert Lepage et une production d'Ex Machina, compagnie multidisciplinaire de Québec que dirige le créateur du Moulin à images, qui a remporté un extraordinaire succès à l'occasion du 400^e anniversaire de la Ville de Québec. La Damnation de Faust, version Ex Machina, a d'abord été présentée au Japon en 1999, puis à l'Opéra de Paris. Pour la reprise de 2008 au Met Opera de New York, le metteur en scène et son équipe renouvellent les images et les projections, notamment par l'intégration d'images interactives générées par le mouvement des interprètes et par la voix des chanteurs.

Cineplex Divertissement présentera aussi chacune des dix productions en rappel pour les invités qui ne peuvent se présenter à la première représentation ou pour ceux qui souhaitent la revoir. Pour connaître la liste des cinémas qui présentent les opéras en rediffusion, prière de consulter le www.cineplex.com. Voici le calendrier des représentations en rappel :

Samedi 15 novembre 2008 13 h (HNE) Salome de Strauss	Samedi 6 décembre 2008 13 h (HNE) Doctor Atomic de Adams	Samedi 17 janvier 2009 13 h (HNE) La Damnation de Faust de Berlioz
Samedi 14 février 2009 12 h (HNE) Thaïs de Massenet	Samedi 21 février 2009 13 h (HNE) La Rondine de Puccini	Samedi 14 mars 2009 13 h (HNE) Orfeo ed Euridice de Gluck
Samedi 4 avril 2009 13 h (HNE) Lucia di Lammermoor de Donizetti	Samedi 18 avril 2009 13 h (HNE) Madama Butterfly de Puccini	Samedi 25 avril 2009 13 h (HNE) La Sonnambula de Bellini
Samedi 23 mai 2009 12 h 30 (HNE) La Cenerentola de Rossini

Cineplex Divertissement présentera les diffusions en direct du « Metropolitan Opera : en direct, en haute définition » dans les 13 cinémas suivants au Québec :

Cinéma Cineplex Odeon Quartier Latin 350, rue Émery Montréal, Québec	Cinéma Banque Scotia Montréal 977, Ste-Catherine Ouest Montréal, Québec
Cinéma StarCité Montréal 4825, avenue Pierre-de-Coubertin Montréal, Québec	Cinéma Cineplex Odeon Brossard 9350, boul. Leduc Brossard, Québec
Cinéma Colossus Laval 2800, rue Cosmodôme Laval, Québec	Cinéma Colisée Kirkland 3200, rue Jean-Yves Kirkland, Québec
Cinéma Cineplex Odeon Boucherville 20, boul. de Montagne Boucherville, Québec	Cinéma Cineplex Odeon Beauport 825, rue Clemenceau Beauport, Québec
Cinéma Cineplex Odeon Ste-Foy 1200 boul. Duplessis Ste-Foy, Québec	Cinéma Galaxy Sherbrooke 4204, boul. Bertrand-Fabi Sherbrooke, Québec
Cinéma Galaxy Victoriaville 1121, Jutras Est Victoriaville, Québec	Cinéma Fleur-de-Lys (Nouveau!) 4520, boul. des Récollets Trois-Rivières, Québec
Cinéma 9 Gatineau (Nouveau!) 120, boul. de l'Hôpital Gatineau, Québec

À propos de Cineplex Divertissement LP :

Cineplex Divertissement LP, dont le siège social est situé à Toronto, possède, loue ou exploite en coentreprise 132 cinémas totalisant 1 337 écrans et accueillant chaque année quelque 61 millions d'invités. Cineplex Divertissement LP est la plus importante entreprise d'exploitation de salles de cinéma au Canada. Elle exploite les cinémas des marques suivantes: Cineplex Odeon, Galaxy, Famous Players (dont les cinémas Colisée, Colossus et StarCité), Cinema City et les cinémas Banque Scotia. Les parts du Cineplex Galaxy Income Fund, qui détient environ 76 % de Cineplex Divertissement LP, sont négociées à la Bourse de Toronto sous le symbole CGX.UN. Pour plus de détails, visitez cineplex.com.

"The Metropolitan Opera: Live in High-Definition" Is Back

At a Select Cineplex Entertainment Theatre Near You

Advance tickets for 2008-09 series available this Friday

Toronto, ON (CGX.UN) – August 20, 2008 – Cineplex Entertainment will begin selling advance tickets to the hottest entertainment event of the year, The Metropolitan Opera: Live in High-Definition, on August 22^nd. Due to the extraordinary response by opera fans to the first two seasons, guests will be able to enjoy more live performances then ever before at select Cineplex Entertainment theatres throughout Canada in High Definition and Dolby Digital Surround Sound. The number of opera presentations for the 2008-2009 season has been expanded to 11 live and 10 encore opera transmissions, beginning September 22, 2009 in addition to the Opening Night Gala live from the Met's home at Lincoln Center in New York City.

"From the beginning, The Metropolitan Opera: Live in High-Definition series has been tremendously successful exceeding all of our expectations and continues to grow year after year," said Pat Marshall, Vice-President, Communications and Investor Relations, Cineplex Entertainment. "This year, we have added even more communities to an already expanded theatre list because of huge guest demand. We are also offering our guests the opportunity to purchase a variety of season ticket packages and these packages or individual tickets can also be purchased in advance ensuring guests get the operas they want."

Beginning Friday August 22^nd individual tickets are available online at www.cineplex.com as well as at participating theatre box offices. Admission for children ages 3 – 12 is $12.95-$16.95 + tax, seniors is $18.95 + tax and general admission is $21.95 + tax.

Season Tickets can be purchased in person only at any of the participating theatres and cannot be purchased online at this time. The package price for all ten performances is $186.58 + tax. Guests can also purchase tickets to any five operas for the package price $98.78 + tax or any three operas for the package price of $62.56 + tax. A special group rate is also available for groups of twenty or more at $16.95 per person. For more information on group rates, call 1-800-313-4461.

Beginning September 22^nd, the curtains will rise at select Cineplex Entertainment theatres throughout Canada with the following performances being shown live from New York:

Monday September 22, 2008 6:30 PM (EST) Opening Night Gala (starring Renée Fleming)	Saturday October 11, 2008 1:00 PM (EST) Strauss: Salome	Saturday November 8, 2008 1:00 PM (EST) Adams: Doctor Atomic
Saturday November 22, 2008 1:00 PM (EST) Berlioz: La Damnation de Faust	Saturday December 20, 2008 12:00 PM (EST) Massenet: Thaïs	Saturday January 10, 2009 1:00 PM (EST) Puccini: La Rondine
Saturday January 24, 2009 1:00 PM (EST) Gluck: Orfeo ed Euridice Saturday March 21, 2009 1:00PM (EST) Bellini: La Sonnambula	Saturday February 7, 2009 1 :00 PM (EST) Donizetti: Lucia di Lammermoor Saturday May 9, 2009 12 :30 PM (EST) Rossini : La Cenerentola	Saturday March 7, 2009 1 :00 PM (EST) Puccini : Madama Butterfly

Cineplex Entertainment will also be showing encore presentations of the scheduled live performances for guests who may not be able to attend the live transmission or who simply want to watch it again. The encore presentation schedule is as follows:

Saturday November 15, 2008 1:00 PM (EST) Strauss: Salome Saturday February 14, 2009 12:00 PM (EST) Massenet: Thaïs	Saturday December 6, 2008 1:00 PM (EST) Adams: Doctor Atomic Saturday February 21, 2009 1:00 PM (EST) Puccini: La Rondine	Saturday January 17, 2009 1:00 PM (EST) Berlioz: La Damnation de Faust Saturday March 14, 2009 1:00 PM (EST) Gluck: Orfeo ed Euridice
Saturday April 4, 2009 1 :00 PM (EST) Donizetti: Lucia di Lammermoor	Saturday April 18, 2009 1 :00 PM (EST) Puccini : Madama Butterfly	Saturday April 25, 2009 1:00PM (EST) Bellini: La Sonnambula
Saturday May 23, 2009 12 :30 PM (EST) Rossini : La Cenerentola

Cineplex Entertainment will present The "Metropolitan Opera: Live in HD" live performances at the following select theatres throughout the province of Québec:

Cineplex Odeon Quartier Latin Cinemas 350 rue Émery Montreal, PQ StarCité Montreal Cinemas 4825, Avenue Pierre-de-Coubertin Montreal, PQ Colossus Laval Cinemas 2800 rue Cosmodôme Laval, PQ	Scotiabank Theatre Montreal 977 Ste-Catherine West Montreal, PQ Cineplex Odeon Brossard Cinemas 9350, boul. Leduc Brossard, PQ Coliseum Kirkland Cinemas 320,0 rue Jean-Yves Kirkland, PQ
Cineplex Odeon Boucherville Cinemas 20 boul de Montagne Boucherville, PQ Cineplex Odeon Ste. Foy Cinemas 1200, boul. Duplessis Ste. Foy, PQ Galaxy Cinemas Victoriaville 1121, boul. Jutras-East Victoriaville, PQ	Cineplex Odeon Beauport Cinemas 825 rue Clemenceau Beauport, PQ Galaxy Cinemas Sherbrooke 4204, boul. Bertrand-Fabi Sherbrooke, PQ Galaxy Cinemas Fleur-de-Lys (NEW!) 4520 boul. des Récollets Trois Rivières, PQ
Cinéma 9 Gatineau (NEW!) 120, boul. de l'Hôpital Gatineau, PQ

For the list of theatre locations showing the encore performances, visit www.cineplex.com.

About Cineplex Entertainment LP:

Headquartered in Toronto, Canada, Cineplex Entertainment LP owns, leases or has a joint-venture interest in 132 theatres with 1,337 screens serving approximately 61 million guests annually. Cineplex Entertainment LP is the largest motion picture exhibitor in Canada operating the following brands: Cinema City, Cineplex Odeon, Coliseum, Colossus, Famous Players, Galaxy, SilverCity and Scotiabank Theatres. The units of Cineplex Galaxy Income Fund, which owns approximately 76% of Cineplex Entertainment LP, are traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange (symbol CGX.UN).