The curtain just came down on the Met’s second high-definition transmission within a week. Deborah Voigt and Robert Dean Smith starred in the epic title roles of Wagner’s Tristan und Isolde, which was presented in Dieter Dorn’s visually sparse and dramatically gripping production, conducted by James Levine. Smith, who made his Met debut, took over the part on a few days notice from Ben Heppner, who is suffering from a virus infection. Both Smith and Voigt received a standing ovation for their spectacular performances. The transmission, dedicated to the memory of Anthony Minghella, was hosted by Susan Graham. During the afternoon’s first intermission, General Manager Peter Gelb interviewed Barbara Willis Sweete, who directed the transmission and talked about the innovative concept of showing several camera angles on screen at the same time. Graham chatted with Maestro Levine and colleagues Voigt and Michelle DeYoung, who was Brangäne, about the challenges of performing Wagner’s score. Technical Director Joe Clark was at hand to explain the sophisticated lighting design of the show, and the Met’s Assistant Manager, Artistic, Sarah Billinghurst talked about casting and finding the right singers for Wagner’s operas.

Transmission host Susan Graham…

…interviewed Deborah Voigt,…

…James Levine (seen here on the screens in the control truck),…

…Joe Clark,…

…and Sarah Billinghurst.

The remaining two Live in HD transmissions to movie theaters around the world this season will be Puccini’s La Bohème in Franco Zeffirelli’s beloved staging (April 5), and Laurent Pelly’s new production of Donizetti’s La Fille du Régiment (April 26).

Photos: Marty Sohl/Metropolitan Opera

The season’s fifth HD transmission on March 15 brought John Doyle’s new production of Britten’s Peter Grimes to movie theaters around the world. Here are some backstage photos.

The transmission was hosted by Natalie Dessay. Later this season, the French star soprano will return to sing the title role in a new production of Donizetti’s La Fille du Régiment.

Anthony Dean Griffey, who sang the title role, and Patricia Racette (Ellen Orford) were interviewed by Dessay on stage during the first intermission.

Director John Doyle (at right) and set designer Scott Pask talked about bringing their vision of Britten’s opera to the Met stage.

The chorus plays an important part in Peter Grimes. Met Chorus Master Donald Palumbo was at hand to explain Britten’s musical depiction of the hostile villagers.

Conductor Donald Runnicles, seen here with Dessay, is a Grimes veteran who has been leading performances of this opera for the past 20 years.

Photos: Marty Sohl/Metropolitan Opera

The Met’s fourth live HD transmission of the season hit screens in movie theaters around the world today, with Karita Mattila and Marcello Giordani starring in Puccini’s youthful hit Manon Lescaut, conducted by Music Director James Levine. Renée Fleming hosted the transmission and took the audience backstage during intermissions for live interviews with Giordani, Levine, and Mattila. The Finnish soprano surprised everyone—including camera crews and stagehands—by giving an encore performance of the splits she does on stage at the end of the dancing lesson in the second act. Also on hand for an interview with Fleming was Technical Director Joe Clark, who explained what was going on behind the curtain during the scene change between Acts II and III. Here are some backstage photos.

Coming right off the stage, Karita Mattila was interviewed by Renée Fleming…

…and performed a split!

In the actual performance, this is part of her dancing lesson scene in Act II.

James Levine talked about the challenges of conducting Puccini’s score…

…while Technical Director Joe Clark explained the logistics of a scene change.

On the set for the third act, tenor Marcello Giordani (who performed with Fleming in Massenet’s Manon several seasons ago) chatted with her about the character of des Grieux in the operas of Puccini and Massenet.

Photos: Marty Sohl/Metropolitan Opera
Ken Howard/Metropolitan Opera (performance shot)