Oberon Shakespeare Study Group

Metropolitan Opera's production of the new work Enchanted Island  based on Shakespeare's Tempest and Midsummer Night's Dream will debut New Year's Eve and run through January 30 with a simulcast performance scheduled for 1 p.m. January 21, 2012.  From the Met: January 21, 2012, 12:55 pm ET U.S. Encore: February 8, 2012 at 6:30 pm local time Canada Encore:  March 3, 2012 at 1 pm local time                        March 26, 2012 at 6:30 pm local time In one extraordinary new work, lovers of Baroque opera have it all: the world’s best singers, glorious music of the Baroque masters, and a story drawn from Shakespeare. In  The Enchanted Island , the lovers from Shakespeare’s  A Midsummer Night’s Dream  are shipwrecked on his other-worldly island of  The Tempest . Inspired by the musical pastiches and masques of the 18th century, the work showcases arias and ensembles by Handel,...

The Metropolitan Opera will simulcast eight operas this year, two of which are taken from the Shakespeare canon: Gounod’s "Romeo and Juliet" will be broadcast live to movie theaters all over the world on December 15, with a recorded encore on December 16 and Verdi’s "Macbeth" will be broadcast on January 12 with an encore on January 13. These simulcasts are a brand new project of the Met and having seen five of the six broadcasts last year, I can recommend them as a wonderful way to experience opera whether you are a neophyte or dedicated fan. With tickets at $22, they are an entertainment bargain. You can find local theaters and buy tickets at the Metropolitan Opera site. If you are unfamiliar with the opera, here is a sample of Gounod’s music inspired by Shakespeare’s genius: “ah, leve toi soliel ” sung here by Richard Troxell . If you are interested in seeing how the aria fits with Shakespeare's poetry, you can view a literal translation of the opera at The...