Live From The Metropolitan Opera. At The Movies!

current calendar, music (opera)

Here's a chance to attend those lavish world renowned performances more or less in your own backyard.

Our special tip is that you can avoid the big crowds that have been filling the AMC River East Theater at 322 E. Illinois by going to Chicago City North, 2600 N. Western Ave., which was about half full when we attended the last Met broadcast of MacBeth on Jan. 12.

True, we had to remind the usher to turn off the lights for the movie and on again for the intermission http://www.fathomevents.com but that was part of the fun.  Let's see if they remember this coming Saturday, February 16th at  12 noon, CST for the broadcast captured on the big screen of Manon Lescaut.

This production stars the Finnish soprano, Karita Mattila (see photo above, courtesy The Metropolitan Opera) and tenor Marcello Giordani.  James Levine conducts.

We enjoyed the opportunity to view the performers up close and could listen in on some very casual behind the scenes chatter.

Other theaters in Evanston and beyond participate in these broadcasts.  Check out http://www.fathomevents.com for a complete listing in the Chicago area and beyond.

In many cases there is an encore performance on the following Sunday but our friendly Chicago City North manager told us there are more likely to be glitches in the encore presentations.  Check the website above to be sure your theater is scheduling an encore.