CLARK ART INSTITUTE TO AIR METROPOLITAN OPERA’S ‘SEMIRAMIDE’ LIVE IN HD

February 23, 2018

Williamstown, Massachusetts—The Clark Art Institute airs The Metropolitan Opera’s Semiramide live in HD on Saturday, March 10 at 12:55 pm. Tickets are $25 ($22 members; $18 students). To reserve, visit clarkart.edu or call 413 458 0524.

Angela Meade makes her Met role debut as the title character in Rossini’s grand opera, which has not been seen at the Met in twenty-five years. Elizabeth DeShong is the Commander of the Assyrian army Arsace, Javier Camarena is Indian king Idreno, Ildar Abdrazakov is the prince Assur, and Ryan Speedo Green is the high priest Oroe. Maurizio Benini conducts. Run time is 4 hours, 0 minutes.

The world premiere of Semiramide took place in 1823 at Teatro La Fenice in Venice. The opera is the culmination of the Italian phase of Rossini’s monumental yet unusual career. He had already produced such immortal comedies as Il Barbiere di Siviglia and L’Italiana in Algeri, but in the early nineteenth century he was celebrated above all else for his tragedies—none more so than Semiramide. For decades after its premiere, the opera swept through the music capitals of Europe and beyond, enthralling audiences with its urgent, transcendentally beautiful use of melody; its undeniably exhilarating drama; and, most importantly, its astonishing vocal displays.

Now in its twelfth season, The Met: Live in HD is the Metropolitan Opera’s Peabody and Emmy Award-winning series of live performances transmitted to theaters in seventy countries around the world. Live telecasts feature the full performance along with backstage interviews and commentary.

ABOUT THE CLARK

The Clark Art Institute, located in the Berkshires of western Massachusetts, is one of a small number of institutions globally that is both an art museum and a center for research, critical discussion, and higher education in the visual arts. Opened in 1955, the Clark houses exceptional European and American paintings and sculpture, extensive collections of master prints and drawings, English silver, and early photography. Acting as convener through its Research and Academic Program, the Clark gathers an international community of scholars to participate in a lively program of conferences, colloquia, and workshops on topics of vital importance to the visual arts. The Clark library, consisting of more than 270,000 volumes, is one of the nation’s premier art history libraries. The Clark also houses and co-sponsors the Williams College Graduate Program in the History of Art.

The Clark is located at 225 South Street in Williamstown, Massachusetts. Galleries are open Tuesday through Sunday, 10 am to 5 pm. Admission is $20; free year-round for Clark members, children 18 and younger, and students with valid ID. Free admission is available through several programs, including First Sundays Free; a local library pass program; EBT Card to Culture; Bank of America Museums on Us; and Blue Star Museums. For more information on these programs and more, visit clarkart.edu or call 413 458 2303.

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