Experience the story of two men fighting over the lady of the lake who is in love with another this weekend at the Marion Ross Performing Arts Center.

One of Rossini’s most beautiful and expressive scores, “La Donna del Lago” was the first opera by a major composer to be based on works by Sir Walter Scott.

The story takes place in Scotland in the first half of the 16th century, during the reign of King James V, who is anecdotally said to have traveled throughout his kingdom in disguise as a commoner. His reign was filled with civil strife and war with neighboring England.

He was the father of Mary Stuart, who succeeded him as Queen of Scots when she was 6 days old. The Scotland of the 19th-century Romantics’ imagination was a wild land where the usual rules of decorum didn’t apply. Joyce DiDonato sings the title role of Elena, the lady of the lake pursued by two men, the King of Scotland (disguised as a commoner) and Rodrigo, the chief of the Highland clan and enemy of the King. But, she is in love with another. Who gets the girl?

Come and enjoy this premier production by the Metropolitan Opera. Joyce DiDonato stars as Elena, the Lady of the Lake. Juan Diego Flórez is the king who falls in love with her, Daniela Barcellona sings the bravura role of Elena’s beloved Malcolm and John Osborn sings the role of the King’s sworn enemy, Rodrigo.

Patricia Racette is the Live in HD host this week. The opera will be sung in Italian with English subtitles. The opera begins at 11:55 a.m. Saturday. The approximate run time is three hours and 25 minutes with one intermission.

Tickets are $20 for adults and $12 for students. There are a limited number of free student tickets available, courtesy of the Robert and Margaret Meyers family. Please show your student ID.

“Meet the Met” will be at 12:15 p.m. Friday in the lobby at the Marion Ross Performing Arts Center. Discussion about the opera, the synopsis and the singers will be the topics. A shortened version will be at 11:30 a.m. in the Green Room prior to the opera on Saturday.

For more information visit www.albertleacivicmusic.com.

 

Friday

• The Spring Craft Show will be from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. at Northbridge Mall.

• Tigers’ Roar will begin at 7 p.m. at the Albert Lea High School auditorium. Tickets are $5.

• A family mystery movie will be shown at 7 p.m. at the Marion Ross Performing Arts Center. The movie will be rated PG and will be revealed at the theater. Cost is free.

• “The Sound of Music” will be at 7 p.m. at Alden-Conger Public School.

 

Saturday

• The Wells Rifle and Pistol Club Gun Show will be at 8 a.m. at United South Central High School.

• A lecture on the architecture of Freeborn County will begin at 9 a.m. at the Freeborn County Historical Museum. The lecture is free for museum members and $5 for nonmembers.

• The Spring Craft Show will be from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Northbridge Mall.

• The Tiger Club Volleyball burger basket night and bake sale will be from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Albert Lea American Legion.

• Tigers’ Roar will begin at 7 p.m. at the Albert Lea High School auditorium. Tickets are $5.

• “The Sound of Music” will be at 7 p.m. at Alden-Conger Public School.

 

Sunday

• The Wells Rifle and Pistol Club Gun Show will be 8 a.m. at United South Central High School.

• Enjoy breakfast from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Masonic Lodge. Amaranth pancakes, eggs, sausages, juice, milk and coffee will be served. Suggested donation is $7.

• The Spuds and Sundaes Fundraiser will be from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Emmons American Legion. Donations will be accepted. Make-your-own baked potatoes and ice cream sundaes are on the menu.

• The Spring Craft Show will be from noon to 5 p.m. at Northbridge Mall.

• “The Sound of Music” will be at 2 p.m. at Alden-Conger Public School.

• A Lenten recital will begin at 3 p.m. at Salem Lutheran Church.

• “Swan Lake” will be shown as part of the Live in HD: Bolshoi Ballet series at 5 p.m. at the Marion Ross Performing Arts Center. Tickets are $20 for adults and $12 for students.

 

Movie listings

• Friday, Saturday and Sunday: “Chappie,” “Cinderella,” “McFarland USA,” “Run All Night,” “The Duff,” “The Lazarus Effect,” “Unfinished Business.”

• Check back next Thursday for a list of the new movies at Mall Cinema 7 Theatre in Albert Lea.