Monmouth University Unveils Upcoming Slate of Met Opera Simulcasts

Last year, one of the most popular continual events at Monmouth University were the live streaming of Metropolitan Opera House shows at the school over the course of the year. These operas were streamed live to the university and played over a projection screen, with patrons watching in a way like they would be watching a film in a movie theatre.

This series of Metropolitan Opera streams was so popular that the university will once again be showing the opera over the course of the 2011-12 school year. Just recently, the West Long Branch school released the schedule of shows that will be shown at the Pollak Theatre.

First to be shown will be a brand new production of the famed opera Anna Bolena, which was created by Gaetano Donizetti. This show will be first broadcast on Saturday, Oct. 15 at 1 p.m., with an encore presentation on Thursday, Nov. 17.

Following will be a brand new production of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s Don Giovanni. This showcase will be seen on Saturday, Oct. 29 at 1 p.m., and an encore will be shown at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 15.

Continuing with the theme of brand new productions, a new version of Richard Wagner’s Siegfried will be shown at 12 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 5. Those who want to see this opera should make sure to see this performance, as there will be no encore of Siegfried being shown at the Pollak Theatre. 

The next two shows will be encores of previous popular operas shown at the Pollak Theatre. First up, Philip Glass’ Satyagraha will be shown on Saturday, Nov. 19 at 1 p.m. with no encore shown afterwards. This will be followed by a showing of George Frideric Handel’s Rodelinda, which will be shown at 12:30 p.m. at Saturday, Dec. 3, with an encore at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 19, 2012.

Concluding 2011 will be a new production of Charles Gounod’s Faust. This brand new performance of the famed opera will be shown at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 10, and will be encored at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 16, 2012.

Then with the new year of 2012, a world premiere broadcast of a brand new Met opera will be held, as George Frideric Handel’s The Enchanted Island will be performed live for the first time ever. This show features members of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream getting stranded on the island from The Tempest. It will be shown on Saturday, Jan. 21, 2012 at 1 p.m., and it will get encored on Thursday, Feb. 23, 2012 at 7 p.m. 

The Enchanted Island will be followed by an encore of two former Met operas, as Richard Wagner’s Gotterdamme Rung will be shown on Saturday, Feb. 11, 2012 at 12 p.m., with no encore being shown. That show will then be followed by an encore of Giuseppe Verdi’s Ernani, which will be shown on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2012 at 1 p.m., with an encore being shown on Thursday, April 12, 2012 at 7 p.m.

The final new broadcast of the 2011-12 Met Opera season to be shown at Monmouth University will be Jules Massenet’s Manon. This opera will be shown on Saturday, April 7, 2012 at 12 p.m., with an encore being shown on Thursday, April 26, 2012 at 7 p.m.

The final Met Opera to be simulcast during this year will be another one of Giuseppe Verdi’s La Traviata, which will be shown for the first time on Saturday, April 14, 2012 at 1 p.m., with an encore being shown at 7 p.m. on Thursday, May 17, 2012.

Seats for any of the Met Operas cost $23 for adults, $21 for seniors and $10 for students. Those who wish to purchase the entire slate of operas at the Pollak Theatre will receive a 10 percent discount on their final order.

Tickets for any of these simulcasts can be purchased by calling the Monmouth University box office at 732-263-6889, or can be purchased online at www.monmouth.edu/met.