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The Metropolitan Opera
Rating Details »
Category: Performing Arts
Neighborhood: Upper West SideLincoln Center
70 Lincoln Center Plz
New York, NY 10023
(212) 362-6000
- Nearest Transit:
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66th St (1)
72nd St (1, 2, 3)
72nd St (B, C)
- Good for Kids:
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70 reviews for The Metropolitan Opera
For without the opera in NY I might not exist ( my parents met at the old opera house ).
I've been to a few performances and have had a few friends actually perform in shows put on by The Metropolitan Opera and the great majority have been spectacular masterpieces. The sets, the music and the stars from all around the world and every generation.
Whether you can afford season tickets in orchestra seats or can only manage a pair of rush seats ( check them out as they're only $20 ) for you and your friend, it's definitely a show to check out.
(See pics)
I love opera.
Every time I come to NYC I try to go to an opera. One day I'd love to move to Lincoln Square neighbourhood so that I can go to opera all the time!
Think about the opera house has about 3800 seats, and almost 1600 of them are Orchestra and were almost all full for the evening, you can imagine it's a great place with beautiful performances.
This time I came here to see Il barbiere di Siviglia and have to say, it made me laugh / chuckle so many times with the lively and moving performance was phenomenal. I realized a lot of people opt for less expensive seats but it really makes a difference to sit closer (not too close) to the stage. Row I this time was a perfect spot.
It's the really beautiful Lincoln center and while people snap pictures on a not too cold November evening, it's a breathtaking view and an art on its own.
As usual, it could get very busy to go pick up your tickets but the people there have seen it all and direct people like herding the sheep. Everyone was in such great mood, in very elegant dresses / suits. This is what I call an evening to savour. This is to make it a special and unforgettable evening.
After the performance, as usual it could get chaotic. There are always some town cars waiting for service. Took one and it costs about 35 dollars for an usual 10 dollar ride but it's all worth more than to try to hail a cab.
I see pictures of performances at the Metropolitan Opera all the time in ads, or online, or in newspapers, and the costumes and sets always looked amazing but you really can't even begin to imagine how absolutely mind boggling and grandiose the sets, costumes and productions at the Metropolitan Opera are.
We saw Turandot here yesterday, and I was at first a little frightened of a 3 hour opera even though I am a big lover of classical music. But you don't even see the time go by, before you know it the piece is over and you are going home in a daze absolutely entranced and unable to explain how extraordinary what you just saw was.
I love that you have the translation in front of every seat and that it is discreet enough not to distract you from the performance. Even cooler than that, you can't see your neighbor's screen thingy as it was so well conceived to not take anything away from the performance. And the theatre itself was so beautiful!
Such a beautiful performance, a wonderful cast and a great night at the opera. I will definitely be back!
I went on a backstage tour of the Metropolitan Opera House. It costs $15 for members of the General Public, $13 for Guild Members, and $8 for full-time students under the age of 29 with valid student ID. A bit expensive, but you do get to see a lot.
There were about 6 people on the tour besides me, so the tour guide didn't have to shout. We went to see the backstage, the lifts for the sets underneath the stage, the stars's dressing rooms, the workshop for making props, the costume-making area, the wig area, and rehearsal rooms. We saw a lot of props for Aida, which is one of the current operas being shown at the Met right now. The scale of the stage tech that goes on at the Met is astounding, way bigger than anything that goes on even on Broadway. They have the sets for all four current productions stored backstage. If you are into stage tech, I imagine this tour would be very interesting to you. Our guide was quite knowledgeable and has a subscription to the current season, so he knows what he's talking about.
To buy tickets to the tour, go to this website: http://www.metoperafam...
Since the tour is a bit expensive, I would only recommend it to serious theater and opera fans.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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6/10/2009
If you are a true opera fan, the Met is the only place to get your opera fix in the U.S.A. They not… Read more »
Useful tips for first-time Met Opera patrons:
1. Go for a matinee performance. You'll be glad you did.
2. If you chose to ignore (1), there's a Starbucks within jogging distance which is still open during the 10:20pm intermission of the evening performance. Get a double espresso to go, and drink it on your jog back to the Met before the intermission is over.
I went last weekend to see the Barber of Seville (or Il Barbiere di Siviglia if you're feeling pretentious, which you probably are). The performance was incredible, but somehow lacked the volume I expected from my first opera. Seats in the dress circle were comfortable, and the view unobstructed.
The subtitles displayed in the seat-backs were really useful. In fact, I managed to follow the plot almost all the way, except for a short doze towards the end of Act 1. Did I mention there's a Starbucks nearby?
I'll definitely be back to the Met before long (it's a splurge, but well worth it), but either for a matinee performance or with a Red-Bull in tow. Dark rooms and wonderful music make me sleepy.
Forget the restaurants, Central Park running/jogging, museums, everything you once thought gave you joy... and purchase a ticket here.
The opera is fantastic and I was in love. I purchased my ticket online on their website. There is a lot of hype about bringing chairs and waiting hours outside for a ticket where you have to stand. That is ridiculous.
My ticket online cost me $30 total (I got it the same day,too). I paid $5 to rent an opera glass (which is helpful for Family circle (I was in Row I seat 5). You have subtitles right in front of you to follow along with the stories and the binoculars to see their faces talk to one another up close.
They have a strict policy of no photos/video inside. There is intermission which gives you time to walk out and grab a marble cake with coffee at Starbucks at the corner of 63rd and Broadway. It's very relaxing and therapeutic. Each opera has a story in itself and very contemplative... much different from what you don't get from the everyday world.
Highly recommend.
Wow! This is such a beautiful opera house.
We came here to watch Don Giovanni and really enjoyed the overall experience. We sat in one of the top sections and in the back but had a great view of the stage and had no problems with our seats. Another plus - personal translators for each seat.
There is also a lovely outside balcony for cocktails or cigarette break.
I will definitely be coming here to watch other performances.
If anyone missed me @ the Elite Event tonight, this was where I was^_^. I took my mom to opening night of Dvorak's Rasulka and the last time I was here was for Madame Butterfly, the Gambler and then before that was for Swan Lake. All 4 were UBER AMAZING! I never felt like I paid too much.
I loved everything about the Met, the entrance, the seats, the personal English/German/Spanish translation screens placed directly in front of your seat! I also loved the short wait for the bathrooms and the bars that open during intermission. One thing though,... so dessert isn't served until the second intermission so that particular one took up most of the time and we didn't get out of Lincoln Center until 12am.
The sets were always incredible, I couldn't take my eyes of the trees and the pond tonight, very picturesque and dazzling, but never overpowering the actual performance itself. Oh and the costumes, how could I forget the costumes? I wish there would be more costume parties around so I could dress up like a princess from these performances.
I always leave so happy after performances here, I guess it's the explosive power of the magnificent chandeliers to endow this happiness onto me throughout the night....now I feel odd cause I just came out from a tragedy...is it wrong to be happy after watching a couple being torn apart by evil forces?
Anyway, if you have yet to experience a performance @ Lincoln Center, the Opera would be a fantastic way to begin!
I love the hall itself... I think they sometimes over-amplify some of the vocalists--to make everything entirely audible to all audience members--which sometimes makes for an unnatural balance (example: Jochanan singing from the pit in Salome)... I think the Orchestra's horn section is very often quite sloppy... Beers are cheap, champagne isn't, the nibbles are good (especially the lemon tart)...
The $20 Rush Tickets are amazing (even though you have to get there a few hours in advance and there's no real guarantee you will actually get a ticket), and so are the recent ticket lotteries they've been doing (again, there's no real guarantee you will actually get a ticket)... The Standing Room Tickets are an awesome bargain... My favorite affordable seats are center-area front-row of the balcony, and my favorite special occasion seats are the front-row of the second tier (the "Grand Tier")...
People can be noisy in the family circle -- lots of kids there for their first opera, lots of old ladies for their thousandth opera, people loudly whispering, eating food, etc... People can be entirely too stuffy and pretentious--with their minks and tiaras and binoculars--on the orchestra level and first tier...
I'm here often, at least once a week, constantly excited by the programming (Berg, Wagner, Prokofiev, R. Strauss, Bolcom, Janacek, Mozart, Gluck, Tchaikovsky, Rossini, Glass, Monteverdi, etc) although I wish they would take a few more risks more often in terms of modern productions and modern operas, and maybe stop pushing the same big names (some of whom are past their prime) at us again and again...
Truly fantastic. Even if you think it isn't your thing try it once.
The opera is not one of my main musical preferences. I have been to a couple so far, because of my girlfriend. None the less, if you are open minded about music, coming to the Met Opera should provide you with a great experience. The acoustics are very good and the productions outstanding. Coming here gives you the feeling that you belong to a whole other echelon of society. Very good experience all around.
It wont get the fifth star since the prices are so exorbitant. Aside from that its a great place to visit and listen to wonderful music and good productions.
I'm no opera buff by any stretch of the imagination. Growing up around Italian immigrant grandparents who had entire Verdi operas committed to memory and who thought that Luciano Pavarotti was the end all, be all of music (and my father wasn't too far behind them on that note), naturally I shied away from the opera and sometimes resented it. My first trip to the Met was to see Il Trittico by Puccini when I was thirteen. I remember part of Il Tabarro, none of Suor Angelica and all of Gianni Schicchi but, mostly I remembered my nap in that big comfy velvet chair and the accompanying guilt I felt later (something like being in a Catholic Church).
The next time I went to the Met, was New Years Eve 10 years ago, to see my brother make his stage debut there in Rigoletto. A little older and a little wiser, I enjoyed it much more (It helped that I knew that guy on the stage). I've since followed my brother around the country to see him sing in cities from Central City, Colorado, to the Santa Fe Opera. Having seen all the other houses, I can say with some authority and no New York snobbiness that no one quite does it like the Met. No other has has the grandeur or the majesty. No other house has the sizable orchestra. No other place can accomodate such production values from the old street and parade in La Boheme to the newly reimagined Magic Flute.
Last year, my girlfriend and I (neither of us opera people still) went to see him in Jack O'Brien's stunning production of IlTrittico. This time, my brother was in it (Betto in Gianni Schicchi) and I realized what a gem this house really is. Not so stodgy that it can't reimagine a classic production and invite a director who could get to the real drama and comedy. Sure they have their quirkiness. Its opera so there are a lot of airs complete with double-kisses, greetings in Italian, and everyone is called darling (regarless of gender or orientation). I mean even the scalpers are kind of oddly, silently perched outside with their tickets held quietly erect. But nobody quite does what the Met manages to do, which is to continue to make opera relevant and digestible and sometimes very funny.
For most, a trip to the Met should be considered at least once on that list of things to do before you die (that's a traditionally operatic ending).
Only time i ever went was for Madam Butterfly back in late 2006. It was amazing. I like me some opera music but I had never seen a live performance before. This was breathtaking. You really do get the feeling of being at "an event" when you are at the Met. They even had little screens with subtitles, which makes it easier to follow along.
You dont have to dress in a tux, but try to keep the level of attire on the high side. It is the opera and everyone being well dressed enhances the experience somehow.
Living in New York and NOT going to the Met Opera is like being a hobo and NOT accepting a free tasting at Le Bernardin.
Grab a book, or some work and get in line for those 20 dollar tickets that they start selling two hours before the show. That means you should get there 3 and a half hours early to insure good seats. Once you get the tickets you can have a great meal somewhere in the district and then pop in to the Opera. If you don't like waiting then buy yourself a ticket, it is worth every penny.
If you're not wearing a suit/evening dress--- I will personally come after you and destroy you.
If you're coughing that night, give your tickets away--- or prepare to die.
If you clap really loudly before everyone else does so that you can get your applause/BRAVO! Into the Sirius Radio Broadcasts of the opera--- you will be escorted out of the house by me and I will beat you senseless with a baseball bat covered with rusty nails.
Shows to take an Opera virgin to:
La Traviata
Turandot
Basically any Verdi or Puccini, except maybe Manon Lescaut, that's more of a second Opera viewing.
Is it worth it to shell out big bucks for the uber Divas? YES. Has Debrah Voigt lost her treble due to weight loss? NOOO, You fucking asshole.
Have you ever felt the prima donna's colouratura vibrate so passionately that it tickles and goes down your own throat?
Have you ever been moved to tears and have questioned the truth of your love due to a song in a foreign language?
If not, you've missed life.
Heard my first opera here, three years ago. I came to watch the Barber of Seville which I really enjoyed.
The Metropolitan Opera house was beautiful, but I remember not knowing which building to go since there's more than one building in this square. There were no signs, but we just asked one of the many dressed up opera-goers. I felt people were dressed up more here than at a regular Broadway performance, but eh, doesn't matter since you're all there to be cultured.
I consider myself an opera enthusiast. Oh, my life in NYC will never be the same without you lovely Met... let's say that I have easily attended some 50 operas here. So much so that at times I contemplate moving up here to the UWS just for the convenience and proximity to my favorite NYC landmark.
The Met has phenomenal staging and props. In terms of comparison, I enjoy their productions more than NYC Opera's and other travelling troupes including Kirov opera. They also have a good line-up of singers and I've enjoyed performances by some of the very best and my personal favorites (Anna Netrebko, Juan Diego Florez, Natalie Dessay). Of course, there are other good singers (Fleming et al) in the roster and other even bigger names (Domingo) as well as broadway entrants (Kristin Chenoweth).
My absolute favorites and most enjoyed operas (based on cast, props, music, story etc) at the Met have definitely been:
- La Fille du Regiment (with Juan Diego Florez and Natalie Dessay)
- Turandot (enjoyable opera with breath-taking props!!)
- Il Barbiere di Siviglia (enjoyable in general)
- Romeo et Juliette (with Anna Netrebko)
- Lucia di Lammermoor (with Natalie Dessay)
- Thais (with Renee Fleming and I'm so in love with Meditation on violin)
- Il Trittico (Gianni Schicchi)
- Orfeo ed Euridice (lovely storyline and music)
- Die Zauberflote (I do like the music)
- Manon Lescaut (I'm just in love with the French period props)
- Macbeth with (eljko Lucic) - ok this is a new / modern production but I liked it
I'm into the more traditional operas. Not a huge fan of the modern pieces. I did give Robert Lepage (the guy who directs Cirque du Soleil) a shot in his production of La Damnation de Faust but I can't fool myself... I am a lady from the last century ;p
Did I mention the almost military-like efficiency of the ladies bathroom queues? This is to the credit of the bathroom attendants who probably have degrees in logistics and inventory management ;p Anyway has anyone noticed the mountains of bills left for particular bathroom attendant (orchestra left)? Seems like she's the only attendant who's managed to milk the economic situation of the generous and largely wealthy opera patrons with the little brown basket strategically placed on the sinks. I'd say she's a millionaire in the making ;p
What's not to love? The architecture is amazing. The décor is fitting for the performances. They offer sparkling wine AND champagne. They've got flat-screen tv's by the bar so that you can see the show if you're late (since they appropriately won't seat you). The seats are quite comfortable. Honestly, it's worth going just to see the building.
And then there's the performance. I must admit that I'm quite biased, since one of my friends from home was making her debut, and that was why we were there in the first place. But this was the 3rd time I'd seen La Boheme in three years, and it was pure magic, completely fresh and bright and wonderful! I would argue that those who don't like opera because they've only seen it elsewhere should try one more time. You can't go dislike opera after seeing it at the Met.
This New York classic is a great place to see something cultural and amazing. You may think Opera just isn't your thing, but think about how happy you get when the girl starts yodeling in the TI song...
JUST LIVE YOUR LIFE! HEY AY AY AY AY AYE!
I managed to score tickets with a friend here for the front row by the orchestra pit for a show I didn't know, but nonetheless enjoyed.
The deep red seating and the decor inside the Opera House are gorgeous, although the ushers will try to prevent you from taking pictures. Like overlapping golden scales the boxes to the side are there, and the black drapes that hang down don't block the orchestra pit. A massive chandelier in the outer waiting area and inside the atrium are nicely placed.
There's a concession / gift store for recent and current shows, and a nice balcony during the intermission to work you way out to and look out over the little plaza where performers often spend time and looks out over the Symphony and other buildings in the area.
Stage set is well-designed to accommodate multiple types of opera, and lighting and sound is very decent. Lovely location, if you like opera. Not the newest place, certainly, but there's a sense of impressive patronage (most of the people in our area probably have held lifetime seats at some point). Come dressed up a little bit, no need for black-tie, but you'll find you fit in better if you don't have dirt on sneakers.
This is my second year of being a regular patron to the Metropolitan Opera's season subscription. During my first year, I was surprised by the number of young people attending the opera.
I prefer the MET over City Opera. It's the aging grandeur and sense of antiquity (in a good way) of the MET, the ambiance of the opera house, and its symbol as the epitomy of upholding tradition both in the audience experience and the delectable extravagence of its productions and sets (last year's La Traviata and Turandot for one, flying pumpkins and giant anvils in Il Barbiere di Siviglia this past season and the season before that), which I love over newer interpretations.
One thing I've noted is that the cheaper weekend tickets are already sold out, even up to March next year, especially for operas with Renee Flemming starring as the lead (Flemming is considered one of the world's best living contemporary sopranos), like Thais and Rusalka.
The opera is surprisingly affordable and is very economically feasible for young 20-30somethings if you can manage the budget for the MET's cheapseats (Family Circle). Buying a series also saves money (about 35%) if you're going to see at least eight operas spread out over the course of the opera season.
I assume with age, you move further downwards as you can afford to buy posher and posher seating options because it seems like the age gap really increases from younger to older as you get to closer and closer to the stage.
If you manage the middle section of the front rows of the Family Circle seats, you'll do fine in terms of seeing the stage. The acoustics for the opera house are great.
I'm not a fan of the concession stand or the overpriced, touristy, and overpacked pre-theatre restaurants near Lincoln Center which cater to the pre/ after theatre crowds.
Also--getting a taxi after the opera is extremely difficult. it' s the only time I've seen well behaved adults old enough to be grandparents push and shove one another or viciously and skilfully play dirty the art of cab stealing.
Be warned, if you provide the MET with your phone number, you will get at least two calls from third party "public interest" groups (Yes. Groups. not even one number. You will be harassed by multiple numbers at dinner, during work, at 9 PM, on a Saturday, during Sunday dinner, etc.) asking for donations, everyday at all hours, for the rest of your life, and your mailbox will be jammed with excessive MET mail.
My first opera at the Met was The Ring Cycle and it lasted 6 hours. I LOVED it. I'm not a fan of the stark Soviet style of staging, but it was beautiful to listen to that much opera sung live, and to hear a full orchestra give it a go for 6 hours. I especially appreciated the personal LED translations to English. It is worth it to research the opera and listen to the music and read about it before attending. I'll be back next week for La Traviata--I have the libretto, listening to it now and I can't wait.
Lincoln Center itself is a huge time warp back to clunky 70's architecture and embarrassing over-use of concrete. I heard a rumor they are supposed to re-do the entire Lincoln Center so it reflects its true intent, to make arts accessible to New Yorkers and not the cold monolith that repels all life forms. What were they thinking, there are no trees, no where to sit, all concrete to pound when going to see and hear art. It is painful just going to the library or meeting friends there it is so inhospitable. 1 star for architecture.
but 4 stars for culture!
Brace yourselves, kids - review #300 is gonna be a long one - I'm not really quite sure how to review an institution that makes me so happy and so frustrated at the same time.
I love opera. I'm an opera person. It affects me on a very real level (in the last thing I saw there - Rigoletto on Tuesday night - Carlos Alvarez almost brought tears to my eyes during his Act II aria - I'm an opera person). Also, I know opera. I studied it, I sing it, I know the singers, the repertoire, the composers. I know opera. And thus, you cannot love/know/appreciate opera without being in awe of the Met. It's the All-Star game of opera (strange to use a sports metaphor here, but go with me). This is where the best of the best come to sing. The biggest starts of opera from all over the world BEG to sing at the Met. Some say it's the most important opera house in the world. It's classic, and opulent, and beautiful. Everything about it is big, from the sets to the ceilings to the voices. The Met is the top.
And yet, what I find so frustrating about the met (and the reason I will be the sole dissenter on the the unanimous 5 star reviews this place gets), is its unwillingness to take any chances whatsoever. Yes, it's easy to fill houses by casting international superstars in big, opulent sets, and doing 30 year old productions that everyone knows, but it doesn't advance the art form. It doesn't allow for creativity, flexibility, or growth of any kind. It's so unwilling to take a chance and fail, unlike City Opera, which, I'll admit, does fail sometimes, but is at least willing to do things a little differently. As a young, regular patron of the opera (and yes, I realize we are a very small minority), I'm not interested in seeing the same damn production of Tosca that they've been doing since 1970.
And yet the tide seems to be turning. Thanks to the appointment of Peter Gelb, the new General Manager, who, still in his first season, has already brought in two new directors for new productions, and commissioned a world premiere. I, for one, welcome the change, but it remains to be seen whether or not he will end up winning over the stodgy Met patrons.
For the neophytes, if you go to the Met, see something classic, because as much as I complain about seeing that damn La Boheme for the 87th time, it's absolutely breathtaking your first time. For something with a little more edge, head across the pavilion to NYCO. Either way, please support opera and all the performing arts in New York! In my humble opinion, they're the best part about living in this glorious city.
What could you give the Met but 5 stars?
This used to be what I did. I studied music history and specialized in opera (specifically modern opera) with hopes of being a professor/music critic. But I started getting into the field and meeting people, and I eventually abandoned academia in favor of actually enjoying my life.
Now all that remains of my life of musical intellectualism (I call it the Ebony and Ivory Tower) is a love of opera and wistful memories of late-night quartet rehearsals.
I don't need to tell you about the Met. You know they're fabulous. World-class performers and impressive new stagings at ball-breaking prices. I just wish I were richer.
I missed this year's Lucia, and I feel like my life isn't worth living. (Can't wait for La Fille for my Dessay fix.)
The only problem I (sort of just a little bit) have is the programming. I'd like to see more daring line-ups. They're doing the Tan Dun I didn't care about last year and the Glass, which is neat, but I can only stand so much Verdi and Puccini. My next opera date is Vanessa at NYCO.
But other than that.... simply smashing.
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Ok, the review is over, but please stick around and listen to the saddest story of my life. ...if you wish.
So I used to know this guy who had the magical combination of being 1) filthy rich, and 2) attracted to me. His partner didn't like all the same stuff he did, so sometimes this guy would take me to expensive places.
Anyway, I was so excited when he got tickets to the opening of Die aegyptische Helena with Debbie Voight, my elephantine Goddess. We were gonna have this fabulous dinner and sit in the orchestra and see this opera and meet his partner for drinks somewhere swanky.
He told me to look hot, so I got outfitted for a new coat and slacks with an awesome new tie and shirt. A new charge account and $1,000 later, I was feeling good! But the next day when I went to pick up my tailored clothes, the guy at the store said "You don't look so good, would you like to sit down?"
Sure enough, I was smacked in the face with the most horrid flu. I couldn't walk 10 feet without passing out. I was sick for a whole week and had to cancel my opera date! I missed Strauss, I missed Debbie, I missed feeling rich, and I haven't even gotten to wear my irresponsibly-attained outfit!
I'm still sad about this. I will now accept your condolences.
I saw Swan Lake Ballet here last night and must say it was a lovely experience. The background scenery was truly amazing and beautiful! I am not much of a "cultured" person when it comes to the arts but even I was absolutely in awe of how beautiful the stage decoration was during each act.
The only negative that comes to mind is that the seats only have a slight incline which makes it difficult for those sitting far from the stage to see. It's even more challenging when you are petite or shorter!
I was here yesterday for Giuseppe Verdi's Luisa Miller. This was only my second time here. The ambience, acoustics and sets were incredible. We had orchestra level seating, that is beaten only by Parterre box seating, which I experienced during my last time here.
I was well advised to get some sleep before going to the opera, since they span 3-4 hours (and those are the short ones!) and music in the dark tends to promote shut eye.
Maybe I should now learn more about operas. They had an Opera 101 book on sale at the counter. But at a page count of 500+, it seemed like even the basic stuff might be overwhelming.
New York = Metropolitan opera
even though I've studied the Classical Music for a long time, I wasn't interested in Operas that much... my heart was only pounding to Cazone, Lied, Chanson, Art song... and some of Arias... maybe...
after moving in New York, had to be the Met!, the only place, makes my heart alive again... singers, music, stage, people, enthusiasm...
I am once Pamina from 'Die Zauberflote,' Violetta 'La Traviata,' Elvira from 'I Puritani,' Jenufa from 'Jenufa ,' Tatyana from 'Eugene Onegin,' Helena from 'Die Egyptische Helena,' Liu from 'Turandot,' Rosina from 'Il Barbiere Di Siviglia'... fall in love with each of tenors, baritones, and basses... every single moment...
every time, being a line for a Rush Ticket, there're many opera lovers from all over the world... didn't realize how lucky I am...
New York!! the center of the Music!! here I am!!!
Here's the gospel according to the unsaintly Ed U...
Going to the Met is something of a religious experience. In fact, I think I saw my Diet Coke turn to merlot at one of their many bars. Now somebody cue the organ please.
Ever since Nicolas Cage took a glammed-up Cher there in "Moonstruck", I have wanted to go to the Met. But opera intimidated me for years. Price was another issue. The cross-continental distance was yet another. Then there are the languages I don't understand spoken much less sung. Oh, and I also lack the appropriate wardrobe (...hey, we all can't look like Cher).
When I arrived for my first-ever Met experience two years ago for a stunning performance of Handel's "Rodelinda" with superstar soprano Renee Fleming and countertenor extraordinaire David Daniels, I was awestruck beyond all expectations. As anyone who has seen the original version of "The Producers" knows, Lincoln Center is a bold complex of buildings with a striking fountain in the middle. I made the dire mistake of going into the Met gift shop right off, where I had to be constrained from buying something...anything...in this virtual candy shop.
When I finally entered the theater as the Met "virgin" I was, I expected it to be much deeper than it is and certainly not nearly as tall. Crystal chandeliers soar upward before the performance begins...still one of the coolest sights ever. I was sitting in Row T down the center and free and clear from the overhanging balcony. I loved the English translation titles in front of me on my own personal scrolling screen. Wow, better than Jet Blue, I was thinking. I was already enthralled, and the curtain wasn't even open.
Stephen Wadsworth's production of "Rodelinda" offered an extravagant Tuscan villa as its main set, but it moved across the stage to reveal an amazing library set and even elevated upward to reveal a darkened dungeon. The bell-like acoustics of the hall enhanced the already stellar performances of the cast. Never had I experienced an opera performance so fulfilling, so moving, so eye-catching until...
Flash forward to last week, and I am back for a return visit, this time for choreographer Mark Morris' equally elaborate production of Gluck's "Orfeo ed Euridice" again starring David Daniels (coincidence?...I think not). Morris lent a fantastical element and seemed to have no problem filling the full height and width of the Met stage with three full tiers of ghostly historical figures as the chorus. Look! There's Princess Di...and Abraham Lincoln...and Gandhi...and... There was so much to take in that I found myself in sensory overload visually and aurally.
There are floors upon floors of seating, and having been in both the upper balcony and the main orchestra, I can tell you the sound is pristine no matter where you are. The view is what varies considerably. If you can afford it, go for the back orchestra so you can see the entire stage. As a San Franciscan, I am jealous of all the New Yorkers who take the Met for granted. Sure, it ain't cheap (it's Broadway times two for a good seat)...but you are almost always guaranteed a spectacular experience every time you go.
And no matter how many times you go, it feels like the first time. You can be a Met "virgin" again...and again...and again.
Absolutely amazing. Talk about an experience!
Grandiose in every way, completely phenomenal.
The Met itself is a gorgeous building, I could totally see myself gliding down the grand staircase in a wedding gown. ;)
The costumes, the sets - it was all beyond exceptional. And the singing was of course phenomenal as well.
I had seats in the 3rd row in the Orchestra and they were good, but I think I'm gonna have a go at some seats in the Parterre next time. I didn't feel like I had a proper view of the floor of the stage from my seat, plus glancing from the LCD screen up to the stage was kind of nuisance. I'm thinking maybe being up in the Parterre, the screen and the stage will be in a more similar line of vision and then easier to keep track of both at the same time. Just a theory, can anyone concur?
I loved that the people attending the show there actually made the effort to dress up. People don't dress up anymore, for like anything! So sad! I generally feel overdressed most places I go but thankfully I felt totally comfortable in a chic Vera Wang piece here.
The one thing I would recommend against would be buying alcohol at the Met. My $16 glass of champagne in a plastic flute was pretty damn foul. Yuk. I'd be surprised if the champy they were pouring even came from a bottle worth $16.
All in all I seriously can't wait to go to another one! I am very much bit by the opera bug!
An Alliterated Review Regarding My Metropolitan Enlightening Experience
Absolutely Amazing Atmosphere
Beautifully Balanced Ballet
Cinderella Completely Charming
Dancers Delicately Divine
Every Experience Elating
Fancy Flighty Footwork
Glittering Glass Goddesses
Handsome Harmonious Hombres
Intriguing Intermissions Included
Jealous Jazz Jackets
Killer Kinetic Kisses
Livid Lonely Lasses
Many Monstrous Moments
Never Needing Nicotine
Outcome Often Orgasmic
Perfectly Prepared Prancing
Quirky Quiet Queens
Regretfully Rare Rotations
Surprisingly Sensual Scenes
Tights Tending Thighs
Ugly Uniformed Ushers
Vividly Vibrant Variety
Wonderfully Wicked Wine
Xenians Youthfully Zealous
With ceilings guilded in gold and plush red velvet omnipresent, how can you not fall in love with this place? I had the privilege of going to a backstage tour led by a flutist in the orchestra there. Something everyone must do! I was shocked to learn that only 40% of a show's production is supported by donations. They really go all out with costume and staging. Also, I learned that the seats are spaced strategically so that you don't look over someone's head and the seat sizes vary. Saw numerous operas here, my favorite of which is still The Barber of Seville. Yes, the crystal chandeliers are all gifts to The Met! The acoustics inside are nothing short of amazing!
Decor: classy, elegant
Note: Press your subtitle button before the opera begins if you want it to work.
I got some pimp ass seats from these people who have like seasonal tickets.... mannnn, what an experience!!!
This was my first Opera. The evenings performance was Otello, everything was so beautiful! The stage was huge, so realistic!
The place looks like rich and stuck up but i saw a whole range of people in like super nice dresses, to jeans and chuck taylors... so whatever floats your boat! Theres a parking lot right underneath so you can just walk upstairs to the theater.... really convenient!
Truly beautiful.
The Met is exactly what an opera house should be - grandiose, imposing, and inspiring, and stands on its own and a landmark (classic example: Opera Garnier). From the sweeping staircases to the deep red carpeting to the insane acoustics of the hall, The Met is an opera force to be reckoned with.
Of course, each individual experience depends on the particular piece you are seeing, who produced it, the actors, and where you are sitting. However, The Met is designed so that even the 'nosebleed' seats are not bad - in fact, most people would say that the sound quality is better the higher up you are.
It appears that downright reasonable ticket prices can be had - going to the opera doesn't have to break the bank.
That said, I had the great joy of being able to see (part) of an opera here with a dear friend of mine - and while I didn't make it through the whole show, it was still magical. Everybody around you is just as excited to be there, which creates a lovely energy.
5 stars for magnificence, glory, and preserving a classic art!
Tips: Eat something before hand, and wear layers or bring a shawl, the temperature fluctuates in the hall. Also, read up on the piece you are seeing beforehand!
Recommended for: Lovers of Opera
Performance 6, Music 6, Plot/Story 6.
I have yet to see a bad opera at the Met. I'm torn between developing a review per opera, or just one really LONG updated review... so lets do the long review:
Il Barbiere di Siviglia
Saw this wonderful Opera with lead character 'Figaro' with my opera buddy (you know you who are!). She was kind enough to go early, and scored killer seats... I mean, orchestra level, row U! The acoustics where we were sitting were phenomenal and luckily no ginormous person blocking our views. Vocals were great, as was the story and of course the music - oh, totally awesome!!! Of course during intermission we had a sidebar conversation about our "livers", which the older folks thought were somewhat amusing and said 'yeah, me too!'.
Great Opera, if you ever get a chance to see it, costumes great, performers great, music, everything, great, great, great!!! Oh, and big props to the butler for he makes Chris Farley's physical comedy look like nothing....
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Update - 6/29/07
Ok, came back to the Met Opera, this time for a ballet - Swan Lake. I was lucky enough to have business relations with JPMorgan Chase who gave me two tickets (one for me, and the other for my Princess) to see Swan lake. There was a private reception in the ___ room (can't remember the name) where we had free food and champagne - can't go wrong with that, right?). My friend pointed out that our tickets were special, and unlike the others sitting in orchestra we had box seats... and not just any box seats... the 'Chairman's box'. Now I've had box seats before, but seriously, if you EVER get a chance to sit here, DO IT. This is where the President of the US sits (if you go on a tour, you know there's a sniper box positioned to take care and watch over the president). I sat where the President sat, does that mean anything? :)
Anyways, the Ballet was fantastic. The first half was a little slower than the second. The backdrops were phenominal, as was the orchestra. The prima ballerina was absolutely fasntastic. This ballet is a must see!
stay tuned for more!
BF and I were here the other night for a fantastic performance of Swan Lake. We ended up with the best seats in the house!
After a private reception in the Belmont Room (very good cheese and cracker plates, hor deorves, champagne, etc), we headed into the actual opera hall, in the "Chairman's Box." Directly in front of the stage, we had the best view - completely unobstructed in and directly in front of the stage. Apparently, this is where the President of the US sits and there is a sniper box above to protect that seat! How cool and slightly scary!!
Ok, the music hall itself is gorgeous. I am obsessed with the Austrian crystal chandeliers that illuminate the hall. Acoustics are great (but I wouldn't expect any less) and best of all - it doesn't get too cold!
The ballet was wonderful - the prima ballerina stole my heart and I was very impressed with the set changes - smooth flawless transitions.
Will be back to review an opera... dying to see Tosca next spring!
12/06
We returned to see Le Nozze di Figaro. Humorous, dramatic and absolutely beautiful. Wonderful acoustics as well. I actually prefer the translators here over the Lyric in Chicago as it is directly in front of you on a small screen rather above the performers.
Bravo!
So much to say after the magnificent experience of Wagner's Die Meistersinger de Nuremberg.
First, I could very well the only member of the audience that is still alive in 20 years. Im totally serious. I made sure my cell phone was in reach for the potential 911 call impending during this 6 hour marathon. I think the odds of an emergency considering the ages of those involved was in order.
More importantly, what an experience. The music. The costumes. Most over... the set. The set is absolutely stunning.
With respect to Die Meistersinger itself, I would think that anyone remotely interested in Wagner, Schopenhauer, Nietzsche, or Goethe would be well advised to experience this. I think modernity needs much more of the brooding cobbler poet of Hans Sachs. The current day wanna be rock/emo star with a guitar whining about a girl just doesnt cut it. No matter what anyone thinks of Wagner, there is something absurdly epic about the brooding loser poet not getting and denying himself of the girl and then being taken paraded out of the city as the hero while they chant his name. Whoever directed the 80s epic Lucas must have been a secret Wagnerite.
To those that cant bear the thought of sitting through a 6 hour production, keep tuned to the television.
One of the treasures of New York and always a stellar experience...!
A friend just debuted in Iphigeneie en Tauride last week (11/27/07). It was a gala opening night. It's wonderful seeing all the women in their floor length couture and Jimmy Choos.
'Jenufa' for Valentine's Day (2007) was a spectacular 5 star performance.
As one reviewer already noted, the Met is for traditional classic opera. I did see La Boheme here as my first opera while I was in college and fell over backwards at the grand drama of it all. Since then, I've been lucky enough to attend a few more operas here. Be warned that tickets for the Kirov Opera, when they swing through town, sell out very quickly. For this reason, I have yet to see Eugene Onegin, my favorite opera.
I also saw Arnold Schoenberg's Moses Und Aaron here. The set was something very different from La Boheme: strikingly modern, and almost minimalistic. The choreography told the story very well during the dance scenes. If you don't have an adamant adversion to atonal music, try to catch it if they bring it back. There are other operas that I've seen here, but none remain so much in my memory as Moses Und Aaron (I still can recall a certain vivid orange-red they used for one scene).
Serious, lofty, and just beautiful drama sung by some of the best voices in the world.
Well, for my 100th review, I wanted something special and the Metropolitan Opera House certainly deserves that accolade. I've been to many opera houses and my favorite is the State Opera House in Prague, Czechoslovakia but the Metropolitan Opera House has one of the most lovely lobbies anywhere. Fully carpeted in red velvet with a gorgeous modern-ish chandelier with star shaped lights presiding over, the Metropolitan open lobby borders on seductive. Like a femme fatale, the staircases wind themselves around the curves of the opera house, allowing everyone to people watch. It has an inhouse restaurant that caters specifically to opera goers where you can place your dinner and eat it over the course of the different acts, where you'll come back to your table to find your food waiting for you. If you've already eaten, there is also a small bar area with drinks and snacks as well.
The inside of the opera house is plain (no ornate gilded ceilings or old fashioned boxes) but the seats are plush and comfortable. Each seat has its own small screen with translated lines. And the technology is such that only the person right in front of the screen can see the words, as to not distract/light the entire row. In fact when I went with Rob to the production of Un Ballo in Maschera, he kept on hitting the on/off button on my screen b/c he thought my screen wasn't working since he couldn't see the words on my screen from his seat.
This is also one of the few places in the city where a suit and tie is highly recommended for gentlemen and where ladies can show up in a gown complete with fur coat without looking out of place. Everywhere you turn, there are well-dressed couples romantically canoodling on the outdoor open terrace or sipping their champagnes by the bar.
Finish the evening with a drink at PJ Clarke or Bar Boulud, across the street so as to miss the rush for cabs and this might be one of the most memorable evenings you've had in a while.
P.S: Tickets can be quite expensive and for short run productions, good tickets are gone months in advance so plan accordingly.
The opera may not be what it used to be. When I think the Opera, I think grand, regal and lots of grey hair and fur. But this is not the case anymore! Who let in the denim jackets and tied-dyed tee-shirts! This is not half price night!
Now, I am all for discount night at the opera, but there should be a dress code and it shouldn't include things with holes or creatures that don't believe in showering.
Now, to the actual venue--its magnificent! I saw Hansel and Gretel here on a Wednesday evening and the entire evening was magical (sans denim jacket clad opera-goers). It's truly an experience to go to the opera in Lincoln Center--it's gorgeous, intermission is great for people watching and how much fun is it saying you are going to the opera?!
Love it, but I'm all for a dress code.
I saw La Boheme in the Emeryville theatre today (got the tickets in Jan.) Theatres started showing operas at the end of 2006. They book out fast and cost about 22 dollars per ticket.
I loved how this showing showed the backstage, interviews with the opera singers and conductor, and even snippets of past operas.
La Boheme is a lovely romantic story and the singers did a great job. When I go to New York, I would love to see the Met in person.
