For Immediate Release
November 28, 2022

CLARK ART INSTITUTE AIRS THE MET: LIVE IN HD PRODUCTION OF THE HOURS AND PRESENTS A POP-UP EXHIBITION INSPIRED BY VIRGINIA WOOLF’S BOOKS

Williamstown, Massachusetts—The Metropolitan Opera’s broadcast production of The Hours airs at the Clark Art Institute on Saturday, December 10 at 12:55 pm in the third installment of the 2022–23 season of The Met: Live in HD. The award-winning series of live, high-definition cinema simulcasts features the full live performance along with backstage interviews and commentary. The Clark broadcasts the opera in its auditorium, located in the Manton Research Center.

Soprano Renée Fleming makes her return to the Met in the world-premiere production of Pulitzer Prize–winning composer Kevin Puts’s The Hours, adapted from Michael Cunningham’s acclaimed novel. Inspired by Virginia Woolf’s Mrs. Dalloway—and made a household name by the Oscar-winning 2002 film version starring Meryl Streep, Julianne Moore, and Nicole Kidman—the powerful story follows three women from different eras who each grapple with their inner demons and their roles in society. The production features soprano Kelli O’Hara and mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato joining Fleming as the opera’s trio of heroines. Phelim McDermott directs this compelling drama; Met Music Director Yannick Nézet-Séguin conducts.

In conjunction with the broadcast, the Clark’s Manton Study Center for Works on Paper hosts a special pop-up exhibition themed to the broadcast. The exhibition includes a sampling of images inspired by Virginia Woolf’s books that evoke the pleasures of reading. The pop-up exhibition is free with gallery admission or The Met: Live in HD ticket purchase; it will be on view from 11 am to 1 pm on December 10.

Tickets are $25 ($22 for members, $18 for students with valid ID, and $7 for children 10 and under). To purchase tickets, visit clarkart.edu/events or call the box office at 413 458 0524. Advance reservations are strongly suggested. No refunds. 

The next Met: Live in HD performance is Fedora, airing Saturday, January 14, at 12:55 pm.

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 285,000 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, which has a three-star rating in the Michelin Green Guide, is located at 225 South Street in Williamstown, Massachusetts. Its 140-acre campus includes miles of hiking and walking trails through woodlands and meadows, providing an exceptional experience of art in nature. Galleries are open 10 am to 5 pm Tuesday through Sunday, from September through June, and daily in July and August. Advance tickets are strongly recommended. Admission is $20; free year-round for Clark members, all visitors age 21 and under, and students with a valid student ID. Free admission is available through several programs, including First Sundays Free; a local library pass program; and EBT Card to Culture. For information on these programs and more, visit clarkart.edu or call 413 458 2303. 

Use of facemasks is optional for all visitors. For details on health and safety protocols, visit clarkart.edu/health.

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