Opera lovers are in for a spectacular season as The Met: Live in HD returns to South Africa, bringing some of the world’s most celebrated productions from New York’s Metropolitan Opera directly to local cinema screens. Marking its 20th season, the award-winning programme will screen eight productions between October 2026 and July 2027 at selected Ster-Kinekor and Cinema Nouveau cinemas.
For two decades, The Met: Live in HD has transformed the way audiences experience opera, allowing viewers thousands of kilometers away to enjoy performances that would otherwise be accessible only to those seated inside the famous New York venue. The upcoming season reflects an evolving opera landscape, balancing beloved classics with contemporary works designed to attract younger and more diverse audiences.
Met at Ster-Kinekor
The season opens with a special anniversary event, Twenty Years of the Met in Cinemas: An Anniversary Celebration, screening on 27 and 29 September. Hosted by legendary soprano Renée Fleming, the production celebrates two decades of cinematic opera and features highlights from more than 185 performances broadcast around the world.
Among the productions arriving on South African screens is Mozart’s witty romantic comedy Così fan tutte, a colourful staging inspired by 1950s Coney Island. Shakespeare fans can look forward to Verdi’s dramatic Macbeth, featuring internationally acclaimed soprano Lise Davidsen and baritone Quinn Kelsey in a gripping tale of ambition and power.
The season also includes Saint-Saëns’s grand opera Samson et Dalila, Puccini’s Wild West adventure La Fanciulla del West, and the Pulitzer Prize-winning Silent Night, based on the remarkable true story of the Christmas Truce during the First World War. South African audiences will have an additional reason to celebrate when local soprano Elza van den Heever appears in Silent Night, bringing a proudly South African presence to one of the season’s most anticipated productions.
Renowned shows
Other highlights include Massenet’s Manon, Verdi’s Otello, and Wagner’s epic Parsifal, ensuring there is something for both seasoned opera enthusiasts and newcomers curious about the art form.
While opera has often been viewed as an exclusive experience, The Met: Live in HD continues to challenge that perception. By bringing these productions into cinemas, audiences can experience world-class performances, breathtaking sets and some of the greatest voices in opera without leaving the country. As the programme celebrates its milestone 20th season, it serves as a reminder that great storytelling, powerful music and unforgettable performances remain timeless.
For South African audiences, the curtain is about to rise on another extraordinary season.
