THE 10th season of the popular Metropolitan Opera’s Live in HD series commences at the Carib 5 theatre in Cross Roads, St Andrew, this Saturday.

This is the third year that local audiences are experiencing the live feed from New York’s famous opera stage, and Melanie Graham, marketing manager at Palace Amusement Company, is looking forward to the schedule of rich presentations.

“Over the past two years, patronage has been growing slowly. We have our loyal fans who come out for each production. Our other presentations — The National Theatre of England and the Bolshoi Ballet — seem to have a lot more traction as they are more mainstream. However, we are always hopeful that the opera will attract more patrons,” Graham told the Jamaica Observer.

She said the Live in HD series should prove of interest to singing groups , church and school choirs as well as anyone who has an interest in music and the theatre.

“This season, there is such a great mix of productions to include classics such as Madam Butterfly and Otello. So for potential patrons, this is something you must attend; it provides a respite from all that’s happening out there. You are able to relax and getaway from the mundane things in our lives,” said Graham.

Over the past two years, the Jamaican audience has been treated to world-class productions including L’elisir d’amore, The Tempest, Carmen, Aida, and Le Nozze di Figaro. But it was Franz Lehár’s comedy The Merry Widow, with soprano Renee Flemming, that has been the most popular in terms of patronage from locals.

Saturday’s opener for the Live in HD series is Verdi’s Il Trovatore. This productions features soprano Anna Netrebko’s dramatic and vocal skills as Leonora, the heroine who sacrifices her own life for the love of a gypsy troubadour. Tenor Yonghoon Lee sings the ill-fated Manrico, baritone Dmitri Hvorostovsky is his rival, and mezzo soprano Dolora Zajick is the mysterious gypsy with the troubled past. Marco Armiliato conducts Sir David McVicar’s Goya-inspired production.

Other works to be showcased this season are Otello (October 17); Tannhäuser (October 31); Lulu (November 21); The Magic Flute (December 12); Les Pecheurs de Perles (January 16); Turandot (January 30); Manon Lescaut (March 5); Madam Butterfly (April 2); Roberto Deveruex (April 16); and Elektra (April 30).