3 Hours
Go out for a (local!) night at the opera.
In 1910, the Metropolitan Opera hosted the world's first-ever public radio broadcast, featuring the great tenor Enrico Caruso. Nearly 100 years later, the New York institution continues to evolve with the latest technology: Returning for its third season is the series The Met: Live in HD, which will beam simulcasts of 11 productions in some 800 movie theaters worldwide MetOperaFamily.org).
Hi-def opera is the closest thing to a live front-row seat. Imagine yourself onstage and inches away from Renée Fleming, who will sing three famous roles—in as many languages—during the Met's opening night gala, screening on September 22: the doomed courtesan Violetta Valéry in Verdi's La Traviata; the fickle, tragic title character of Jules Massenet's Manon; and the love-seeking countess in Richard Strauss' Capriccio. The season also includes five new productions and a Met premiere, John Adams' Doctor Atomic (about the race to develop the A-bomb). Did we mention no formal wear required? — Richard Gehr
