CEDAR FALLS -- When the curtain goes up Monday at The Metropolitan Opera in New York City, Cedar Falls arts patrons will be able to watch a live broadcast of the production from the comfort of College Square Theatre.

For the second year in a row, the local movie house will screen select performances from the renowned opera company in real time. This year, the "Live in HD" program will transmit Met shows to more than 850 theaters in roughly 30 countries across the globe. The simulcast season kicks off at 5 p.m. Monday with "Opening Night Gala," starring Renée Fleming in scenes from Giuseppe Verdi's "La Traviata," Jules Massenet's "Manon," and Richard Strauss' "Capriccio."

"Everybody gets a front-row seat," said Joyce Spande, a Cedar Falls woman who attended several of last year's performances. "The costumes are fantastic and the voices are brilliant. You can watch world-famous performers at a very affordable price."

Tickets for each opera are $22 at the College Square box office. Program sponsor Iowa Public Radio offers discounted $12 tickets for IPR Classical listeners. Close to a million viewers watched "Live in HD" performances last year, outnumbering the people who experienced the Met's in-house shows.

"Audience reaction was very, very positive last year when we first ran the series," said Carlo Petrick, spokesperson for Marcus Theatres, which owns the College Square movie house. "Many people thanked us for bringing The Met to their hometowns, and we're anticipating that this season is going to be even better."

This year's productions include classic operas, such as Giacomo Puccini's "Madama Butterfly," as well as more contemporary shows, like John Adams' "Doctor Atomic," a 2005 work that addresses the anxieties surrounding the first atomic bomb test in New Mexico. Eleven operas are included in this year's simulcast series.

The movie theater viewings allow attendees to catch a behind-the-scenes glimpse of life at The Met, said Scott Vezdos, IPR marketing and communications specialist.

"There seems to be more of an intimacy involved in going to the (movie) theater because you have a better view," he said. "You can see the sweat coming off of the singers' foreheads and really get immersed in the art. They even have interviews with the singers during intermission."

To celebrate the return of The Met Opera, as well as the relaunch of the KHKE classical music station, the local public radio station will host an after-party following Monday's performance. Event attendees are encouraged to come in formal attire or dressed as their favorite opera character or singer. After the show, guests can enjoy appetizers and listen to harp music by local musician Gaylord Stauffer.

Howard Jones, a retired UNI history professor, plans to attend both events.

"Opera is a very important part of musical culture, and a lot of us thrive on it, myself included," said the Cedar Falls man. "This offers everyone a chance to see the great singers of the world."

Contact Mary Stegmeir

at (319) 291-1482 or mary.

stegmeir@wcfcourier.com.