Sheraton Grande Walkerhill said it has launched a brunch program offering a New York Metropolitan Opera, filmed live.

At the hotel’s theater, a high-resolution 16-by-7.5 meter screen with a 7.1 surround audio system will play the Metropolitan Opera’s 2010-2011 season programs, including all-time favorites such as “Turandot” from March to December, the hotel said.

The theater’s Met Opera Brunch program will be offered six or seven times each month until December.

In March, the theater plays Puccini’s “Turandot” on weekends (March 13 and March 20) and Offenbach’s “The Tales of Hoffmann” every Tuesday (March 8, 15, 22 and 29). The two stories are well known to most opera lovers and will also serve as a good introduction to opera for those who are trying it out, hotel officials said.

“Turandot,” the last work of Italian filmmaker Franco Zeffirelli, has topped the rankings of Met opera favorites for years. It is based on a story of the cold Chinese princess Turandot, who orders the killing of suitors who cannot solve her riddle. Maria Guleghina played Turandot and Marcello Giordani played prince Calaf. The aria “Nessun Dorma” Calaf sings for Turandot is especially famous.

“The Tales of Hoffmann” was directed by Tony Award winner Bartlett Sher, recognized for his successful directing of Season 2006-2007 Met opera “The Barber of Seville.” The opera was conducted by James Levine with lead role played by Joseph Calleja, the winner of 1998 Caruso competition in Milan.

For further understanding of the operas, Anyang University professor and radio show host on KBS Classic FM Jang Il-bum, classical music lecturer Yoo Jung-woo and “Opera, Happily Addicted” author Lee Yong-sook will provide commentary in between the acts.

The brunch set menu, priced at 60,000 won including tax, includes a Chlorella burger, vanilla crme brulee, chocolate-covered strawberry, lemon cream and blueberry-ade. The program runs from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

The hotel said the Met Opera Brunch program will renew opera pieces and the brunch menu every month. For details, call (02) 455-4880.

By Kim Yoon-mi (yoonmi@heraldcorp.com)