Through a partnership between East Baton Rouge Parish School System and the New York Metropolitan Opera, local students have the opportunity to learn about and experience live opera broadcasts for free as part of the Met’s HD Live in Schools program. The fourth and final opera broadcast this season, Rossini’s “La Cenerentola,” will be shown at 11:30 a.m. Saturday, May 9 at CitiPlace Stadium 11.

The HD Live in Schools program is designed to fully immerse students in the opera experience and integrate it into the classroom. The Met created a set of standards-driven curriculum guides and other opera resources for teachers and administrators and provides teachers with in-person training seminars to learn how the program can be woven into the curriculum.

While many of the students and teachers involved in The Met: HD Live in Schools are studying an arts curriculum, there are a significant number of English, world language, and history class participants in the program. 

“The Met’s Live in HD presentations are an interactive way to introduce opera to the next generation,” said Met General Manager Peter Gelb. “I am very pleased that we are able to bring the program to students and teachers across the country in this dynamic way.”

The 18 school districts participating in the program this year are: Atlanta, GA; Baton Rouge, LA; Charlotte, NC; Cleveland, OH; Colorado Springs, CO; Dallas, TX; Denver, CO; Helena, MT; Houston, TX; Jacksonville, FL; Las Vegas, NV; Memphis, TN; Nashville, TN; Portland OR; Reno, NV, San Antonio, TX; San Diego, CA; and Tulsa, OK.

Elîna Garanèa stars in Rossini’s bel canto Cinderella story, “La Cenerentola”. Lawrence Brownlee stars as her Prince Charming, Don Ramiro.  Maurizio Benini conducts. This national education program is made possible by a grant from Bank of America.  Visit www.metopera.org/education for more information or call Harelda Smith-Wallace at (225) 929-8777.