“Falstaff” Continues the NY Met’s New HD Simulcast Season at The Grand!

Ellsworth, Maine - The “Live in HD” high-definition simulcast series of productions from The New York Metropolitan Opera continues its 2013/14 season at The Grand with Robert Carsen’s production of Giuseppe Verdi’s take on Shakespeare’s jolly Falstaff- the first new Met Falstaff since 1964- on Saturday, December 14th at 1 pm. Tickets are $26 for adults and seniors, $24 for members, and $19 for students.

“The Met: Live in HD,” the Metropolitan Opera’s award-winning series of live transmissions offering a significant portion of the Met season to DownEast and MidCoast Maine communities, continues its eighth season with Verdi’s Falstaff. Adapted by Arrigo Boito (from Shakespeare's plays The Merry Wives of Windsor and scenes from Henry IV), this “commedia lirica” in three acts is an admired favorite with critics of Verdi’s, because of its brilliant orchestration, scintillating libretto and refined melodic invention. Now, Robert Carsen’s production sets the venerable mainstay in the English countryside in the mid-20th century with Ambrogio Maestri (last season’s “Dulcamara” in the Opening Night production of L’Elisir d’Amore) singing the title role of the brilliant and blustery Sir John Falstaff, opposite a marvelous ensemble that includes the soprano Angela Meade (as “Alice Ford”), the mezzo-soprano Stephanie Blythe (as “Mistress Quickly”), the soprano Lisette Oropesa (as “Nanetta”) and the baritone Franco Vassallo (as “Ford”). Supporting Carsen in this production is set designer Paul Steinberg, costume designer Brigitte Reiffenstuel and lighting designer Peter Van Praet (in partnership with Robert Carsen). One of the undisputed masters of Falstaff, Music Director James Levine conducts Verdi’s opera for the first time at the Met since 2005.

“The Met: Live in HD series” is made possible by a generous grant from its founding sponsor, The Neubauer Family Foundation. Global corporate sponsorship of The Met: Live in HD is provided by Bloomberg. Transmission of The Met: Live in HD in Canada is made possible thanks to the generosity of Jacqueline and Paul G. Desmarais Sr. The HD broadcasts are supported by Toll Brothers, America’s luxury home builder®. Bar Harbor Bank and Trust sponsors the season presentation at The Grand.

So bring a friend and share the experience of the next exciting season of LIVE simulcasts from New York’s Metropolitan Opera on The Grand screen!

For more information on the Met opera at The Grand, please call the box office at 207-667-9500. For more information on events at The Grand visit The Grand website at www.grandonline.org or follow The Grand on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Grand-Auditorium/112755987339