‘I Puritani’ Met Live Opera

Date: Saturday, January 10 2026 to Wednesday, January 14 2026

The Mary D. Fisher Theatre is honored to be the home for the Met Live Opera programs for the 2025-2026 season, presented by the Sedona International Film Festival. The season continues with Bellini’s “I Puritani” live via simulcast on Saturday, Jan. 10 at 11 a.m. and the encore presentation on Wednesday, Jan. 14 at 3 p.m. Plan to come early as John Steinbrunner will lead a pre-opera talk one hour before the LIVE production on Saturday. For gorgeous melody, spellbinding coloratura, and virtuoso vocal fireworks, “I Puritani” has few equals. On Jan. 10, the first new Met production of Bellini’s final masterpiece in nearly 50 years — a striking staging by Charles Edwards, who makes his company directorial debut after many successes as a set designer — arrives in cinemas worldwide. The Met has assembled a world-beating quartet of stars, conducted by Marco Armiliato, for the demanding principal roles. Soprano Lisette Oropesa and tenor Lawrence Brownlee are Elvira and Arturo, brought together by love and torn apart by the political rifts of the English Civil War, with baritone Artur Rucinski as Riccardo, betrothed to Elvira against her will, and bass-baritone Christian Van Horn as Elvira’s sympathetic uncle, Giorgio. ACT I The Puritan stronghold is threatened by siege from the Royalist troops. Elvira, daughter of the fortress’s commander, has been promised to Riccardo (Sir Richard Forth), but she loves Arturo (Lord Arthur Talbot), a Royalist. Her uncle Giorgio (Sir George Walton) assures her that her father will allow her to marry her lover. Arturo arrives for the wedding. When he learns that Enrichetta (Queen Henrietta) is a prisoner at the castle, he resolves to help her escape in disguise. Riccardo, who is determined to kill his rival, catches them, but when Enrichetta reveals her identity, Riccardo lets them get away, knowing this will ruin Arturo. When Elvira learns of Arturo’s escape with a woman, she believes herself betrayed and is overcome by madness. ACT II Arturo has been condemned to death. Elvira, reliving her happy past in her madness, mistakes Riccardo for her lover and dreams of her wedding. Giorgio tries to convince Riccardo to save Arturo. At first indignant, Riccardo is finally moved to help Elvira. ACT III Arturo’s love for Elvira has brought him back to Plymouth. When she appears, he assures her of his affection. Just as he is about to be arrested, news arrives of the Royalists’ final defeat and a general amnesty for all offenders. The shock of this restores Elvira’s senses, and she and Arturo embrace their new happiness. The 2025-2026 Met Live Opera season in Sedona is generously sponsored by Chris Fladlien. The Met Live Opera’s “I Puritani” will be shown at the Mary D. Fisher Theatre on Saturday, Jan. 10 at 11 a.m. (live simulcast) with an encore on Wednesday, Jan. 14 at 3 p.m. The pre-opera talk will take place one hour before the live Saturday simulcast. Tickets are $25 general admission, $22 for Film Festival members, and $15 for students. Tickets are available in advance at the Sedona International Film Festival office or by calling 928-282-1177. Both the theatre and film festival office are located at 2030 W. Hwy. 89A, in West Sedona. For more information, visit: www.SedonaFilmFestival.org.

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