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)

The HD transmission of Macbeth on January 12 made it all the way to sunny San Juan, Puerto Rico, as these images of a local movie theater show.

Photos: Metropolitan Opera

On Thursday, December 13th, Long Island City High School’s journalism class and opera class went on a field trip to the Met. The purpose of the trip was to interview Anna Netrebko and Peter Gelb. We all went backstage through the whole Met and we were all able to meet Salvatore Licitra and saw him perform during his rehearsal of Verdis’ Un Ballo in Maschera. We learned some insightful things—like that everything being used in the operas, from the wardrobe to even the very last board on the floors, is made inside the Met. It’s one of those amazing once-in-a-lifetime experiences that you’d just wish you could do over and over again, it was just so intriguing. Once I saw the outcome of all the hard work and labor put into all of the productions (including Romeo and Juliet), I learned to appreciate the live HD opera event that took place at my school this last Saturday on December 15th. I can’t wait to see Hansel and Gretel. If you haven’t passed by and taken a glance at the amazing artwork that has been placed in the art gallery on the first floor, than you should really stop by and check it out. This whole week has been a learning experience, and I hope to encounter myself sharing my fun-filled learning experience with my peers live at the Met. I’m looking forward to buying tickets and watching Hansel and Gretel. Romeo and Juliet is a must see experience for audiences of all ages!