Catch Free Outdoor Opera Screenings At The Metropolitan Opera This Summer

UPPER WEST SIDE, NY — Who says the opera has to be snobby? Starting in August, opera-lovers will be able to take in free outdoor screenings of the Metropolitan Opera at Lincoln Center as part of the opera's ninth Summer HD Festival.

The festival will run from Aug. 26 through Sept. 4 and feature nine different opera performances. In addition to the screenings, the summer festival will include a special showing of the 1975 film version of Mozart's "The Magic Flute."

During each screening 3,000 chairs will be set up on the Lincoln Center Plaza facing a large screen suspended on the arts center. Should all the seats be occupied there's more than enough standing room in the plaza if you don't mind standing on your feet for a few hours to take in some opera.

So opera fans, mark these dates on your calendar:

• Friday, Aug. 25, 8 p.m.: "The Magic Flute" (Film screening)
• Saturday, Aug. 26, 8 p.m.: "Rigoletto"
• Sunday, Aug. 27, 7:45 p.m.: "Il Barbiere di Siviglia"
• Monday, Aug. 28, 8 p.m.: "L’Amour de Loin"
• Tuesday, Aug. 29, 8 p.m.: "Manon Lescaut"
• Wednesday, Aug. 30, 8 p/m.: "Roberto Devereux"
• Thursday, Aug. 31, 8 p.m.: "Tristan und Isolde" (Act 1)
• Friday, Sept. 1, 8 p.m.: "Tristan und Isolde" (Acts 2 and 3)
• Saturday, Sept. 2, 8 p.m.: "Eugene Onegin"
• Sunday, Sept. 3, 8 p.m.: "Nabucco"
• Monday, Sept. 4, 8 p.m.: "La Traviata"

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