Met's HD series set

The Met: Live in HD series commences its seventh season of high-definition telecasts of live performances from the stage of New York's Metropolitan Opera at Lincoln Center this fall. The Met's HD telecasts reach a network of 1,800 theaters in 54 countries throughout the world. This season offers a wide variety of operatic treasures, some good old standbys, but also some interesting novelties.

First on the list is Gaetano Donizetti's delightful comedy "L'Elisir d'Amore," starring Anna Netrebko, Matthew Polenzani, John Del Carlo and Marius Kwiecien in a new production by director Bartlett Sher and designer Michael Yeargan, the team that introduced us to Rossini's zany "Le Comte Ory." This new production of "L'Elisir" premieres at the Opening Night Gala, ushering in the Met's 2012-13 season at Lincoln Center on Monday, Sept. 24.

The Met: Live in HD telecast season opens with a later performance of "L'Elisir d'Amore," scheduled for Sunday, Oct. 14, at 1 p.m. at the Quick Center in Fairfield and at the Ridgefield Playhouse in Ridgefield. This is an "encore" showing, which means the actual performance has already happened. Oct. 14 is the day following the live Saturday matinee at the Met.

Please note that the Quick Center and the Ridgefield Playhouse tend to have similar telecast schedules. However, readers are well advised to check the websites of their venues of choice for the exact dates and times of performances and encore performances when purchasing tickets.

Giuseppe Verdi's masterpiece "Otello" will be telecast in HD live Saturday, Oct. 27, at 1 p.m. at both the Quick Center and the Ridgefield Playhouse. Renee Fleming essays Desdemona, one of her signature roles, joined by Johann Botha as Otello and Falk Struckmann as Iago.

November brings Thomas Adès conducting his new opera "The Tempest," starring Simon Keenlyside as Prospero in a new production by Robert Lepage. Isabel Leonard sings Miranda. The opera airs live on Saturday, Nov. 10, at 1 p.m.

Mozart's elegant opera seria, "La Clemenza di Tito," brings Latvian mezzo Elina Garanča to the fore as Sesto, joined by Giuseppe Filianoti and Barbara Frittoli. At the Quick Center the telecast is Sunday, Dec. 2, at 1 p.m. (an encore performance); Ridgefield lists Dec. 3 (also an encore) for its showing. Again, check websites for details.

A new production of Verdi's lyric thriller "Un Ballo in Maschera" is slated for the Quick Center for Tuesday, Dec. 11, at 1 and 6 p.m. (both are encores); Ridgefield lists Sunday, Dec. 9 (also an encore). Director David Alden, with sets by Paul Steinberg, updates this tale of love, betrayal and regicide; the stellar cast includes Sondra Radvanovsky, Marcelo Álvarez, and Dimitri Hvorostovsky. Fabio Luisi conducts.

Verdi's grand classic "Aida" follows live on Saturday, Dec. 15, at 1 p.m. at both the Quick Center and Ridgefield. Roberto Alagna sings Radames, Liudmyla Monastyrska is Aida, and Olga Borodina is Amneris. Luisi again conducts.

The new year is welcomed by a live HD telecast of Hector Berlioz's epic "Les Troyens" on Saturday, Jan. 5, at noon. Special in this cast is Susan Graham's touching Dido; soprano Deborah Voigt adds the role of Cassandra to her repertory. Marcello Giordani sings Aeneas. Fabio Luisi conducts.

Donizetti's "Maria Stuarda," in its Metropolitan Opera premiere season, will air live on Saturday, Jan. 19, at 1 p.m. at both the Quick Center and Ridgefield. The fabulous Joyce DiDonato sings the title role, with Elza ven den Heever as Elisabetta and Francesco Meli as Leicester. David McVicar, who brought us Donizetti's stirring "Anna Bolena" last season, directs.

Verdi's "Rigoletto" receives an update to Las Vegas in the 1960s in a new production by Michael Mayer, telecast live on Saturday, Feb. 16, at 1 p.m. Želijko Lučić sings the title role, with Diana Damrau as Gilda and Piotr Beczala as the Duke.

A new production of Wagner's "Parsifal," by director François Girard, reaches the big screen on Saturday, March 2, at noon (live) at the Quick Center; Monday, March 4, at the Ridgefield Playhouse (encore). A soulful Jonas Kaufmann is the chaste knight Parsifal, Katarina Dalayman is the wild Kundry, Rene Pape repeats his sonorous Gurnemanz.

Riccardo Zandonai's haunting, passionate, but rarely heard "Francesca da Rimini" airs live Saturday, March 16, at Ridgefield; March 23 at noon (encore) at the Quick Center. Starring Marcello Giordani as Paolo and Eva-Maria Westbroek in the title role, this "Francesca" promises to be a memorable experience.

Finally, a new production of Handel's "Giulio Cesare" airs live on Saturday, April 27, at both the Quick Center and Ridgefield. David McVicar updates the action to the time of the zenith of the British Empire; Natalie Dessay sings Cleopatra; counter tenor David Daniels sings the title role.

Tickets for the entire season or for individual performances may be ordered at www.fairfield.edu/newseason for the Quick Center or www.ridgefieldplayhouse.org for Ridgefield. Or call the Quick Center at 203-254-4010 or 877-278-7396 or the Ridgefield Playhouse at 203-438-5795. Tickets available to the general public go on sale Tuesday, Sept. 4, at both venues. Check times and dates of additional performances. Visit www.metopera.org.

Jerry Sehulster is a freelance writer in Stamford and may be reached at jsehulster@att.net.