Sedona residents will have a chance to experience the Metropolitan Opera broadcast live in their own backyard, thanks to technology.

“I’m proud to announce The Met: Live in HD to this performance hall,” Chamber Music Sedona Executive Director Bert Harclerode said as he opened a press conference Tuesday, July 6, at The Red Rock Center for the Performing Arts on the campus of Sedona Red Rock High School. “This is a demonstration of a community effort of the right people at the right time.”

Beginning Saturday, March 19, the matinee performances at the Metropolitan Opera will be broadcast live at the center starting with Gaetano Donizetti’s “Lucia di Lammermoor” at 10 a.m. It will be followed by four other operas through Saturday, May 14.

The Met: Live in HD is presented in cooperation with Chamber Music Sedona, the Sedona-Oak Creek School District, Northern League of Arizona Opera and KNAU radio in Flagstaff.

CMS Board President Ed Ingraham said the performance hall, with its state-of-the-art technology, has made the broadcasts possible.

“Two years ago when we understood this building would be available we expanded our mission to performance in general, not just chamber music,” Ingraham said. “The Met: Live in HD is one of the major art movements in the world. We hope it is our first expansion and hope to bring other types of performances. I’m beside myself with pleasure.”

The Met: Live in HD began in December 2006 as part of the opera company’s effort to build revenue and attract new audiences. This is the award-winning series’ fifth season of live high-definition performance transmission to movie theaters and auditoriums around the world. The Red Rock Center for the Performing Arts is the newest venue for the program.

The performance hall was a big factor in obtaining the Metropolitan Opera series. Project Manager Dave Young said the hall should be finished by the end of September, which is a 750-seat auditorium with surround sound.
“We’ve known about the broadcast for about one month, but we’ve thought about it for a year. The Met has been responsive and very helpful. These are live, not delayed broadcasts,” Ingraham said.

SOCSD Governing Board President Bobbie Surber said the school’s grounds are here for the community and should be at the service of the community.

“This is a dream come true, starting with the partnerships and the community at large who passed this bond to make the performance hall possible,” Surber said.

Thinking about the students at the high school, Principal Dave Lykins said the hall, along with many other upgrades, are going to create a more positive education experience.

“To qualify is a rigorous process, but I’m sure we can meet [the requirements],” Young said.

Dale Lake, president of the Northern League of Arizona Opera, said the league is deeply appreciative of the chance to be a part of the performance hall and bringing the Metropolitan Opera to Sedona.

“When I told our board about The Met, it was hard to contain their excitement. This is a wonderful opportunity for Sedona — maybe the best,” Lake said.

The general manager for KNAU in Flagstaff, John Stark, promised the station would actively promote The Met: Live in HD to its listeners across Northern Arizona.

Sedona Vice Mayor Cliff Hamilton said walking through the performance hall complex made him want to go back to high school, almost.

“Wow. What a marvelous complement to education in Sedona. The potential of this performance hall is incredible,” Hamilton said.

Harclerode said the performance hall is a living, growing project and there are many opportunities that will present themselves in the future, and there is tremendous potential to tie in with all the schools.

“It is our goal to give the children of Sedona an opportunity to experience performing arts that will last them all their lives,” Harclerode said.

During the 2010-11 season there will be the five operas in the spring. For the 2011-12 series there will be 10 to 11 performances from October through May.

“We hope to blow your minds with the people we bring here,” Harclerode said. “I hope this hall is a cultural icon for all. We all have something in the community we can celebrate. We’re dancing in the streets.”