Metropolitan Opera Orchestra Movies

The Metropolitan Opera mounted this 2008 production of English composer Benjamin Britten's 1945 opera Peter Grimes, starring Patricia Racette, Anthony Michaels-Moore and Anthony Dean Griffey. The Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and Chorus lend added musical support under the baton of Donald Runnicles. ~ Nathan Southern, Rovi

Experience Franco Zeffirelli's lavish production of the Puccini favorite La Bohème in this release of a live performance conducted by Nicola Luisotti, and featuring the magnificent voices of Angela Gheorghiu, Ainhoa Arteta, and Ramón Vargas. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Famed tenor Placido Domingo headlines this December 2006 stage production of Tan Dun's unique opera The First Emperor, mounted by Raise the Red Lantern director Zhang Yimou. Dun composed the score and conducts; he also co-authored the libretto with Ha Jin, adapting both historical records by Sima Qian and the screenplay The Legend of the Bloody Zheng by Lu Wei. This filmed outing bears an unusual footnote, as one in a series of early 21st century filmed operas released to mainstream theaters by New York's Metropolitan Opera in High Definition (HD) format. It contains not merely the said opera, but interviews with the various participants conducted by the late Beverly Sills, and extensive behind-the-scenes footage. ~ Nathan Southern, Rovi

This rendition of Verdi's classic -- the title character is a complex figure whose love of both country and family prove a more than complicated combination -- was performed under the baton of conductor James Levine at the Metropolitan Opera House, and features opera legend Placido Domingo. ~ Tracie Cooper, Rovi

Richard Wagner (1813-1883) wrote the music and libretto of Die Walküre (The Valkyrie), the second of four operas in Der Ring des Nibelungen (The Ring of the Nibelungs), a continuing story based on myths. In the first opera, the evil dwarf Alberich vies with Wotan, king of the gods, for possession of a golden ring empowering its wearer to rule the world. But the giant Fafner instead gains control of the ring. In Die Walküre, Wotan leaves to his earthly son, Siegmund, the task of recovering the ring, thereby preventing Alberich from seizing it first and using its power to destroy the gods. When Die Walküre opens, Siegmund is fleeing enemies and takes refuge at night in the dwelling of Sieglinde and her husband, Hunding. Because Siegmund's enemies are Hunding's friends, Hunding challenges Siegmund to a morning duel. While Hunding sleeps, Siegmund and Sieglinde discover that they are brothers and sisters, fall in love, and run off. Fricka -- the goddess of marriage -- demands that her husband, Wotan, punish Siegmund for enticing Sieglinde into incest. Wotan at first refuses. But under Fricka's nagging, he promises to intervene in the duel on Hunding's behalf. When Wotan's daughter Brünnhilde, a warrior maiden known as a Valkyrie, implores him to spare Siegmund, Wotan angrily refuses and forbids her to assist Siegmund. But headstrong Brünnhilde defies him and attends Siegmund during the duel. It is for naught. Wotan is there, too, and enables Hunding to slay Siegmund. Wotan then banishes Brünnhilde for her disobedience. She is to be cast into a deep sleep on a mountainside. However, Wotan agrees to create a ring of protective fire around her until a hero discovers and awakens her. In a touching final scene, father and daughter embrace and bid goodbye. ~ Mike Cummings, Rovi

Gioacchino Rossini's final masterwork gets the royal treatment by the New York Metropolitan Opera in this filmed performance of John Copley's elaborate adaptation starring Marilyn Horne and June Anderson. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Ariadne auf Naxos begins with a lengthy prologue involving the premiere of an opera based on the story of Ariadne. A conflict develops when the opera's composer discovers that a frivolous comedy has been added to the bill after his new masterpiece. Tensions increase when it is decreed that, because of time restrictions, both pieces are to be performed together so that there will be time for a fireworks display afterward. The cast and creators struggle to quickly come up with a way of making this impossible situation work, and the opera begins in earnest. Ariadne, discarded by her lover Theseus, is on the island of Naxos, awaiting death. A troupe of comedians arrives and tries to entertain her, but her grief is too great. Zerbinetta, leader of the troupe, tries to persuade her that she is foolish to want death in such a manner, and Ariadne leaves her in anger. Zerbinetta and her pals then cavort about, with various ones vying for Zerbinetta's attention, which she eventually gives to Harlekin. Ariadne is then told that a ship is approach; assuming it is Hermes coming to take her to her death, she awaits it. However, it turns out to be Bacchus, a beautiful, young god whom Ariadne at first takes to be Theseus. Bacchus, struck by Ariadne's beauty, tells her who he really is and takes her with him to live in the heavens. ~ Craig Butler, Rovi

The Metropolitan Opera mounted this production of composer Giuseppe Verdi's opera Simon Boccanegra, starring Sherrill Milnes, Anna Tomowa-Sintow and Vasile Moldoveanu. The Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and Chorus, under the direction of James Levine, provide musical accompaniment. ~ Nathan Southern, Rovi

This video captures the performance of this tragic Verdi opera as it is performed by the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and Chorus. ~ Iotis Erlewine, Rovi

A musical production that was designed for the "Live From the Met" series, this program was produced by Jean-Pierre Ponnelle. ~ Rovi

Puccini's Manon Lescaut opens at an inn in Amiens, where a group of poor students are reveling. One of these, Des Grieux, tells another, Edmondo, that he is impervious to the temptation of love. Soon after, a beautiful young girl, Manon, arrives with her brother, Lescaut and an older tax collector, Geronte, all of whom have been traveling by coach. At her father's insistence, Manon is on her way to a convent; however, Geronte is planning to steal her away and force her to be his mistress. Des Grieux and Manon meet and fall in love with each other. Learning of Geronte's plans, Des Grieux convinces Manon to elope with him. Geronte and Lescaut hatch a plot to steal Manon away from Des Grieux, which succeeds. After some time, however, Manon grows discontented with being Geronte's mistress. Des Grieux makes a surprise visit and wins Manon back. To get revenge, Geronte has the police deport Manon, who attempted to leave with some of the old man's jewels. She is jailed, awaiting deportation to Louisiana, and a plan to help her escape fails. Des Grieux begs to be allowed to join her on board the ship bound for America, even if he must serve as a cabin boy. In New Orleans, the poor lovers cannot find a means of supporting themselves. They wander aimlessly, until Manon, exhausted and broken, dies in Des Grieux's embrace. ~ Craig Butler, Rovi