Met Opera at arts center

FRYEBURG — The Leura Hill Eastman Performing Arts Center continues its Metropolitan Opera Live in HD 2012-13 Season with Un Ballo in Maschera on Saturday, December 8, from 1 to 5 p.m.

Plan to come early and have lunch in the Eastman Performing Art Center’s beautiful lobby. Beginning at 12 p.m., Lake Region Caterers will be offering a unique variety of fresh sandwiches and hearty soups as well as delicious desserts and other tasty snacks, both sweet and salty.

Reservations are recommended, though not required. For reservations contact Lake Region Caterers directly at 787-3327 or lrcjv@fairpoint.net.

Tickets are $26 for adults, $23 for seniors (65+) and $18 for students and are available for purchase online at www.fryeburgacademy.org/pac or by calling the Box Office at 935-9232.

Also, the Fryeburg Academy Opera Lecture Series continues on Wednesday, December 5, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. to discuss Un Ballo in Maschera. This series, designed to help opera goers prepare for each of the Met Operas, is led by Fryeburg Academy’s own opera enthusiast Joe DeVito.

Join Joe as he summarizes the plot, introduces the music, shares some reviews and gives an interpretive view of the upcoming Met simulcast. All are welcome, no previous opera knowledge is needed, and admission is free, though donations are appreciated. For more information, call the box office at 935-9232.

Accompanied by a thrilling score, Verdi’s vivid characters grapple with life and love, betrayal and death. Director David Alden’s dreamlike setting provides a compelling backdrop for this dramatic story of jealousy and vengeance.

Marcelo Álvarez stars as the conflicted king; Sondra Radvanovsky is Amelia, the object of his secret passion and Dmitri Hvorostovsky is her suspicious husband.

Kathleen Kim is the page Oscar, and Stephanie Blythe sings the role of the fortune-teller Ulrica. Fabio Luisi conducts. Approximate run time is three hours, 24 minutes.

The theater is located at 18 Bradley Street on the campus of Fryeburg Academy in Fryeburg. Parking is free.

For more information about the Met Live in HD visit http://www.metoperafamily.org.