Sublime singing from this top-drawer cast with Maestro Levine at the helm for today's Live in H D broadcast from the Met. Don't miss it!

Mozart's music is gloriously performed by the Met's lead singers and ensemble. The story is a twisted spoof on the foibles of love and passion in a burlesque production set in 1950s Coney Island. A circus theme is the backdrop for the action and startlingly returns to the terrible time when individuals with rare physical conditions were sensationally promoted in what was called the "freak show". The small group of actors who bring this era back have no connection to the story; they merely perform circus acts (magic, fire swallowing, etc). It is unfortunate that the producers chose to put this piece of circus history back into the opera without considering the pain and exploitation it brought to those who were born looking different.

Mozart's music is gloriously performed by the Met's lead singers and ensemble. The story is a twisted spoof on the foibles of love and passion in a burlesque production set in 1950s Coney Island. A circus theme is the backdrop for the action and startlingly returns to the terrible time when individuals with rare physical conditions were sensationally promoted in what was called the "freak show". The small group of actors who bring this era back have no connection to the story; they merely perform circus acts (magic, fire swallowing, etc). It is unfortunate that the producers chose to put this piece of circus history back into the opera without considering the pain and exploitation it brought to those who were born looking different.