The Metropolitan Opera’s production of “Adriana Lecouvreur” will be presented on the big screen at Bainbridge Cinemas at 9:55 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 12.

For the first time at the Met, Anna Netrebko sings the title role of Adriana Lecouvreur, the great 18th-century actress in love with the military hero Maurizio, sung by Piotr Beczata.

Gianandrea Noseda conducts Francesco Cilea’s tragic tale, directed by Sir David McVicar, with the action partially set in a working replica of a Baroque theater.

The cast also features Anita Rachvelishvili as the Princess of Bouillon, Adriana’s rival for Maurizio’s affections, and Ambrogio Maestri as Michonnet.

First performed in November 1902 in Milan, Italy, the story is set in Paris, France in 1730.

According to Wikipedia: “The opera was first performed in the United States by the San Carlo Opera Company on Jan. 5, 1907, at the French Opera House in New Orleans with Tarquinia Tarquini in the title role. It gained its Metropolitan Opera premiere on [Nov. 18] 1907 (in a performance starring Lina Cavalieri and Caruso). It had a run of only three performances that season, however, due in large part to Caruso’s ill-health. The opera was not performed again at the Met until a new production was mounted in 1963.

“The title role in Adriana Lecouvreur has always been a favorite of sopranos with large voices, which tend to sit less at the very top of their range. This part has a relatively low tessitura … but requires great vocal power, and is a meaty and challenging one to tackle on a dramatic level — especially during the work’s so-called ‘Recitation’ and death scene.”

Famous Adrianas of the past 75 years include Claudia Muzio, Magda Olivero, Carla Gavazzi, Leyla Gencer, Montserrat Caballé, Renata Tebaldi, Raina Kabaivanska, Renata Scotto, Mirella Freni, and Joan Sutherland.

Angela Gheorghiu tackled the role at the Royal Opera, London in 2010, with Jonas Kaufmann as Maurizio.

Visit www.farawayentertainment.com to learn more.