Episodes
1. Doctor Atomic
September 22, 2008
180 min
The Season 3 premiere features a production of the John Adams opera "Doctor Atomic," about physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer (Gerald Finley) and the testing of the first atomic bomb in 1945 New Mexico. Kitty Oppenheimer: Sasha Cooke. Edward Teller: Richard Paul Fink. Gen. Leslie Groves: Eric Owens.
2. Salome
October 11, 2008
180 min
A production of the Richard Strauss opera "Salome," about a wild-child princess (Karita Mattila) who performs the Dance of the Seven Veils for King Herod (Kim Bagley) in return for anything she wants---which happens to be the head of a prophet (Juha Uusitalo). Herodias: Ildikó Komlósi.
4. The Metropolitan Opera Opening Night Gala Starring Renée Fleming
November 22, 2008
180 min
The Met's 125th opening-night gala features soprano Renée Fleming in excerpts from three of her favorite operas, Verdi's "La Traviata," Massenet's "Manon" and Strauss' "Capriccio." Joining her are tenor Ramon Vargas, baritones Thomas Hampson and Dwayne Croft, and bass Robert Lloyd; and she wears costumes designed by John Galliano, Christian Lacroix and Karl Lagerfeld.
5. Thaïs
December 20, 2008
180 min
Soprano Renée Fleming stars in the title role of Jules Massenet's "Thaïs," about an Egyptian courtesan who causes the fall from grace of a monk (Thomas Hampson). Nicias: Michael Schade. Palémon: Alain Vernhes. La Charmeuse: Leah Partridge.
6. Lucia di Lammermoor
January 10, 2009
180 min
A production of Gaetano Donizetti's "Lucia di Lammermoor," a tragic opera about a young woman (Anna Netrebko) whose brother (Mariusz Kwiecien) pressures her to marry a nobleman despite her love for another (Piotr Beczala).
7. La Rondine
January 24, 2009
180 min
Soprano Angela Gheorghiu and tenor Roberto Alagna star in a production of Puccini's "La Rodine," about a kept woman who faces a difficult decision when she falls for the son of a respectable family.
8. Orfeo et Euridice
February 7, 2009
180 min
A production of Christoph Willibald Gluck's "Orfeo et Euridice," in which the grieving Orfeo (Stephanie Blythe) braves the underworld to retrieve his beloved wife (Danielle de Niese).
9. Madama Butterfly
March 7, 2009
180 min
Puccini's classic "Madama Butterfly," about a Japanese geisha (Patricia Racette) who marries an American naval officer (Marcello Giordani).
10. La Sonnambula
March 21, 2009
180 min
A reimagining of the Bellini opera "La Sonnambula," about a young woman (Natalie Dessay) whose sleepwalking compromises her virtue and causes her beloved (Juan Diego Flórez) to cancel their wedding, adds a play-within-a-play format.
