The Lincoln Theater is pleased to present the final two transmissions of The Met: Live in HD season, featuring Richard Strauss’s electrifying “Salome” on Saturday, May 17 at 1 p.m. and Rossini’s beloved “Il Barbiere di Siviglia” on Friday, May 31 at 1 p.m., including a pre-opera talk by Dr. Morton Achter.

"Salome" is a haunting masterpiece, Strauss’s gripping one-act opera, conducted by Met Music Director Yannick Nézet-Séguin, in a bold new production by Claus Guth. Set in a psychologically charged Victorian era, this retelling of the biblical tale stars Elza van den Heever as the tormented Salome, alongside Peter Mattei as Jochanaan and Gerhard Siegel as Herod. With no intermission, the 2-hour, 15-minute performance delivers an intense and unforgettable theatrical experience.

If there was ever a joyful finale, it’s “Il Barbiere di Siviglia.” On May 31, Rossini’s sparkling comedy concludes the 2024-25 season, featuring Aigul Akhmetshina as the spirited Rosina and Jack Swanson (in his Met debut) as Count Almaviva. Andrey Zhilikhovsky shines as the wily Figaro in Bartlett Sher’s lively production. Before the performance, Dr. Morton Achter will host an engaging pre-opera talk beginning at 11:45 a.m., exploring why Verdi hailed this work as “the finest opera buffa in existence.” Approximate running time for “Il Barbiere di Siviglia” is 3 hours, 33 minutes, including an intermission.

A beloved local opera expert, Dr. Morton Achter returns for his 15th season providing insightful pre-opera talks at Lincoln Theater. A retired professor with a Ph.D in music and theater history, Dr. Achter has directed and taught opera for over six decades, enriching Midcoast audiences with his expertise.

Don’t miss having the best seat in the house at these final Met Live in HD performances right in your own community living room! Tickets are available for purchase in advance at LincolnTheater.org, and are also available at the door beginning 30 minutes before showtime. Lincoln Theater is located at 2 Theater St. in the heart of downtown Damariscotta. For more information, and to buy tickets, visit LincolnTheater.org or contact the theater office: info@LincolnTheater.org or 563-3424. Curtain going up!