Melodies

`Lucia di Lammermoor' Texaco-Metropolitan Opera InternationalRadio Broadcasts 11:30 a.m. Saturday WFMT-FM (98.7)

In December, Christmas comes early for opera fans, as the curtaingoes up on another season of the Texaco-Metropolitan OperaInternational Radio Broadcasts.

Now in its 60th year, and heard in 33 nations worldwide, thebroadcasts have become a treasured Saturday afternoon tradition amongopera buffs. Live from the stage of New York's Metropolitan Opera,luminaries such as Placido Domingo, Renee Fleming, James Morris andBryn Terfel can be heard for the ultimate bargain - free.

The first of this season's 20 matinee broadcasts bows at 11:30a.m. Saturday (an hour earlier than usual) with Ruth Ann Swenson andRamon Vargas as the tragic lovers of Donizetti's "Lucia diLammermoor." In Chicago, WFMT-FM (98.7) carries the broadcasts.

The ultimate way to while away a lazy afternoon, the Met seriesserves as a wonderful backdrop in your car as you run errands or athome as you clean house.

Each season brings the thrill of discovery. In April, countertenorDavid Daniels made his much-anticipated Met debut in Handel's "GiulioCesare." In the 1997-1998 season, the Met broadcasts introducedrestored versions of Verdi's "Stiffelio" and Mussorgsky's "BorisGodunov."

This year, the series holds special interest for Chicagoans, withbroadcasts of Boito's "Mefistofele," a big hit at Lyric, with SamRamey in one of his signature roles (Feb. 19); the world premiere ofJohn Harbison's "The Great Gatsby" (Jan. 1), in a productionscheduled for Lyric Opera's 2000-2001 season, and "Tristan undIsolde" (Dec. 18), with the Wagnerian love couple of the moment, BenHeppner and Jane Eaglen, who reprise the roles at Lyric, startingJan. 31.

The broadcast season concludes with the Valhalla of opera,Wagner's "Ring" cycle, on March 24 and April 1, 15 and 22.

A free broadcast guide can be ordered by calling 1-800-MET-8828,or via the Web sites, www.metopera.org, or www.texaco.com. Libiamo!