Metropolitan Opera in HD comes back for third season

We suspect that there aren't many occasions at the Metropolitan Opera that call for the term "hat trick," but the Met is kicking off its third season of simulcasting performances in HD this Monday. It's been a great ride for the Met: seasons one and two saw the audience swell from 325,000 to 935,000, with distribution increasing from seven to 17 countries. And season three has no plans on slowing down -- with almost the full Met season in the lineup, projections are set for 1.2 million viewers in 30 countries across 850 movie theaters. With the uneasy economic times here in the US, this is a great way to check out first rate performances with picture and sound quality to match without breaking the bank, so keep your eyes open.

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 22nd 2008 6:11PM]

Opera fans without access to one of the movie theatres where these performances will be telecast should be on the lookout for potential rebroadcast by PBS in HD. PBS rebroadcast 14 of the first several seasons of MET HD productions. The HD production values (performance, picture and sound) were superb. Congratulations to the Met and to PBS ! Don't miss them...