BY KATE TAYLOR [NY Sun, 21 December 2007]

As of this month, the Metropolitan Opera is bringing its populist message to a new audience: schoolchildren. Last Saturday, the Met transmitted "Roméo et Juliette," starring Anna Netrebko, live via satellite to high-definition screens at five New York City public high schools. Some 2,000 students and family members attended for free. On New Year's Day, the Met will transmit to the same schools its new production of "Hansel and Gretel." Today, 2,500 students will spend their last day of school at the Met's first student open house, watching the final dress rehearsal of "Hansel and Gretel" and learning about how the sets and costumes are made.