Patricia Racette as Cio Cio San in madame Butterfly. (Photo: Marty Sohl/Metropolitan Opera)

The Met Live in HD continues to captivate a worldwide audience, bringing live, high definition productions of the world’s greatest opera to millions of worldwide viewers. The series continues  with Puccini’s hauntingly beautiful love story, Madama Butterfly, which will be screened at several Nashville venues on Saturday, March 7 at 12 noon (CST).

Opry Mills Stadium 20 Plus IMAX, 570 Opry Mills Drive and  Green Hills Stadium 16, 3815 Greenhills Village Drive, both in Nashville, will screen the live broadcast. In addition, for those who will miss the Saturday showing, Green Hills will screen encore showings on March 18 at 7 p.m. and March 18 at 1 p.m. Running time is three hours and 21 minutes, with two intermissions.

Patricia Racette returns to the title role of Anthony Minghella’s stunning production, a new classic of the Met repertory, opposite Marcello Giordani. Conducting is Patrick Summers, with production by Anthony Minghella, Patricia Racette and Marcello Giordani.

Madame Butterfly is set in 19th century Nagasaki, and tells the story of Lieutenant B. F. Pinkerton, U.S.N., who is about to  contract a “Japanese marriage” with Cio-Cio-San,  called Butterfly by her friends. Even as Pinkerton explores the little house in which he plans to live with Butterfly,  his plans fall into immediate disfavor with the American Consul Sharpless, who fears that what may be a mere matter of pastime to the American Naval lieutenant, may have been taken seriously by the Japanese girl and, if so, may prove a matter of life or death with her. In truth, Butterfly is in love, and has renounced faith and family to be with Pinkerton, placing her life in his hands.

Three years elapse,  a long time since Pinkerton has left Butterfly with the promise to return to her “when the robins nest.” When the curtain rises, after an introduction, in which another Japanese theme is employed, Suzuki, although convinced that Pinkerton has deserted her mistress, is praying for his return. Butterfly is full of faith and trust.

In point of fact, Pinkerton really is returning to Nagasaki, but with no idea of resuming relations with his Japanese wife. Indeed, before leaving America he has written to the Counsul asking him to let Butterfly know that he is married to an American wife, who will join him in Nagasaki.

Night passes; dawn is breaking. When Suzuki awakes, she persuades the poor little “wife” to go upstairs to rest, which Butterfly does only upon Suzuki’s promise to awaken her as soon as Pinkerton arrives. Pinkerton and Sharpless appear. Suzuki at first is full of joyful surprise, which, however, soon gives way to consternation, when she learns the truth. Pinkerton himself, seeing about him the proofs of Butterfly’s complete loyalty to him, realizes the heartlessness of his own conduct.  Pinkerton who cannot bear to face the situation, rushes away, leaving it to the Counsul to settle matters as best he can.

Butterfly has become aware that people are below. Suzuki tries to prevent her coming down, but she appears radiantly happy, for she expects to find her husband. The pathos of the scene in which she learns the truth is difficult to describe.

The Counsel and Mrs. Pinkerton withdraw. In a scene of tragic power, Butterfly mortally wounds herself with her father’s sword, the blade of which bears the inscription, “To die with honour when one can no longer live with honour,” drags herself across the floor to where the boy is playing with his toys and waving a little American flag, and expires just as Pinkerton enters to take away the son whom thus she gives up to him.

The Met Live in HD  has been seen in almost 850 venues, with several performances remaining in the current season. A special presentation of The Audition, a documentary about the Met’s 2007 National Council Auditions, will be seen in select theaters. Don’t miss the chance to experience the Met at your local movie theater!

J.R. Tate, a retired Marine Corps officer who completed Appalachian Trail thru-hikes in 1990, 1994, 1998 and 2006, will speak at 4 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 22 and at noon, Friday, Jan. 23. Both sessions, free and open to the public, will be in the Morgan University Center, Room 308.

He will be on hand to announce “A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail” by Bill Bryson. Bryson tells of his encounters while hiking the trail.   

Also in 1999, Tate, a resident of Woodlawn, was appointed an honorary ambassador to the state of Tennessee for his role in promoting hiking.

In addition to the Appalachian Trail, Tate has hiked the 500-mile Colorado Trail and Vermont’s 270-mile Long Trail.

Tate is the author of two books: “Walking on the Happy Side of Misery” and “Walkin’ With the Ghost Whisperers: Lore and Legends of the Appalachian Trail,” an eclectic collection of tales about interesting places on or near trail and the people who left their mark.

For more information about Tate’s upcoming visit, contact the at APSU, (931) 221-7431.

Nike Goldman

Mike Goldman’s Blue Note Coffee, Bagel and Sandwich Company, which opens December 8 in the Sango area of Clarksville, will strike a new and different chord with a creative menu of gourmet sandwiches, bagels, great coffee, WiFi and live blues music.

Located at 3371 Highway 41A South (Madison Street in Sango), the Blue Note is in part Goldman’s way to “get a good bagel” by making his own, baked on the premises and served up with assorted cream cheeses or butter. That’s just the beginning. Espresso and assorted hot and iced coffee-based beverages include  Caramel Attack (a blend of caramel flavor drizzled over whipped creme, foaming milk and Espresso), Snapping Turtle (steamed milk, caramel, dark cocoa, whipped creme and chopped peanuts), Berry Patch (white cocoa, Expresso and raspberry flavor)…and of course, there’s regular coffee and espresso “straight up.”

It only gets better. Sandwiches are served on artisan breads, served fresh and chilled, warm and toasted, or pressed Panini style. Goldman and his chef, J.C. Gardner, have created some signature sandwiches, including a garlic chicken wrap with juicy chicken and gouda cheese wrapped in a spinach wrap with all the trimmings.

Chef J.C. gardner

When asked about the motivation to shift gears in midlife, Goldman, an elder with Extreme Christian Fellowship who worked as a Defense Contractor for 25 years, said he saw his job slipping away and, despite several lucrative job offers, decided to shift gears entirely, combining a love of good food with a passion for the blues.

A man of faith, he says candidly that the idea for a cafe had been floating around in his head for some time, but that ultimately “God” led him to this new project. He loves food, and proudly admits that when his health went out of control, he had gastric bypass surgery and has pared well over 100 pounds in the past year. It’s a blessing, with a tinge of regret that while his health has substantially improved, he can’t indulge in his own food the way he used to.

The flip side of the Blue Note is just that: the Blues. When you walk in the door, the first thing you see as a small stage angled into a corner, mic ready and waiting for some steamy, soulful sounds. Mike himself is a performer, and will grace the stage on opening night (Dec. 8).

The walls are adorned with stylish framed photos of jazz and blues greats — both photos and mini biographies about artist and music. Albert King. Stevie Ray Vaughn. John Lee Harper. B.B. King. Sonny Boy Williams. John Fogerty (not really jazz, Goldman says, but “he made me want to play music.”) Ask Goldman a question about the blues and he’ll probably have the answer.

Goldman notes the blues music is “distinctly American” and reflects the human experience. At the Blue Note, this music is delivered at low volume rather than “drowning out” conversation.

Squared tables for two or four are individually lit with pendulum lights in a swirl of blue and white glass. Square tables, Mike said, allow his customers to come in larger groups and simply “push them together.”

Taking the plunge into business is a calculated risk and took a lot of planning and patience.

“I wanted a place where you have good music and good conversation, and not have one drown out the other,” Goldman said. To that end, in addition to the standard tables, he is arranging a comfortable corner at the back of the room with couches and coffee table, “conversation pits”  for those so inclined.

The business of the Blue Note is also his retirement plan; he “wanted out of the rat race.” He and his wife, Lori Goldman, who works at APSU,  cashed in their 401Ks to fund their dream. Goldman also hopes the shop will generate enough income to allow him to expand his first and biggest commitment: his ministry. “The Holy Spirit is here to help me along.” His agenda includes standard music nights, a blues open mic night, “jam sessions” for musicians to network and make music, and a monthly “praise and worship” night.

“I wanted a place where people could be comfortable just “hanging out, listening to good music, eating good food.”

The Blue Note Coffee, Bagel and Sandwich Company will be open  Monday-Saturday from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., catching the breakfast crowds for bagels (which are served all day), the lunch crowd for exceptional sandwiches and salads (which are served all day) and the evening crowd who wants it all with music. The music starts at 7 p.m. The Blue Note is closed Sundays.

For more information about the Blue Note, call 931-358-0001.