The Magic Flute in HD at The Grand

Ellsworth, Maine - The “Live in HD” high-definition simulcast and encore series of productions from The New York Metropolitan Opera continues its 2015 – 2016 season at The Grand with the encore presentation of Mozart’s family classic The Magic Flute on Saturday, December 26 at 1 pm. Julie Taymor's (director of Disney's The Lion King on Broadway) breathtaking and popular production of the operatic fairy tale takes the stage in its abridged, English-language version, with the American baritone Nathan Gunn as the irrepressible bird-catcher Papageno. Tickets are $15 for adults and $12 for Youth (12 and under). The Magic Flute is suitable for all ages

The Magic Flute is the groundbreaking broadcast that launched the Met’s award-winning Live in HD series to movie theaters in 2006, enchanting opera lovers from around the world with the whimsical humor and breathtaking puppetry of Julie Taymor’s hit production. “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 tenth season with this high-definition encore of the wonderful Met production. The melodic fable concerns a mythical land between the sun and the moon. Three ladies in the service of the Queen of the Night save Prince Tamino from a serpent. The Queen, appearing in a burst of thunder, tells Tamino about the abduction of her daughter, Pamina. Tamino, who has fallen in love with a portrait of Pamina, agrees to rescue her. The ladies give a magic flute to Tamino and silver bells to his friend Papageno, the birdcatcher, to ensure their safety on the journey and appoint three spirits to guide them. Gunn is ably supported in this production by the Hungarian coloratura soprano Erika Miklósa as the Queen, American operatic tenor Russell Thomas as Tamino and American soprano Susanna Phillips as Pamina. The Met's Erik Nielsen conducts.

“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 Desmarais, in memory of Paul G. Desmarais Sr. The HD broadcasts are supported by Toll Brothers, America’s luxury home builder®.

For more information on the Met opera at The Grand, including the next opera in the series Bizet's Les Pêcheurs de Perles (The Pearl Fishers) to be screened on Saturday, January 16, 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