Upon walking through the majestic doors of Manhattan's Metropolitan Opera House, guests are immediately overwhelmed with an abundance of culture, history, and sheer elegance. Built in 1883 by wealthy businessmen, the Met moved to its current home in Lincoln Center in 1966, and has since been home to some of the most talented artists and beautiful voices in the world. Today, under the musical direction of James Devine, the Met is the most famous opera company in the world, and its orchestra and choral group are considered some of the finest the opera has to offer.
This extravagant musical haven has hosted American premieres of such influential masterpieces as Richard Wagner's Die Meistersinger and Tristan und Isolde and world premieres of more recent works such as John Harbison's The Great Gatsby in 1999 and in 2005, Tobias Picker's An American Tragedy. Each season, the Met hosts more than 200 performances and attracts more than 800,000 guests. On Christmas Day in 1931, the Met successfully completed its first radio broadcasts with Hansel und Gretel, allowing the emotional music and sweeping epic tales to enter homes across the country and Canada. The hugely successful Saturday Matinee radio broadcast program is now going on its 78th year and is heard in 42 countries.
The elegant Grand Tier Restaurant, open two hours before curtain call, offers an exquisite blend of traditional and innovative Italian cuisine, and there are also various bars offering pre-curtain and intermission drinks. There is no formal dress code, but comfortable, professional clothing is recommended. New productions typically start in September of each year. Tickets for most productions are available mid-August, and be sure to check the website for a complete list of showings and dates. Tickets may be purchased through the website, by mail, phone, or fax, or at the box office window. Parking is available in the parking garage underneath Lincoln Center, open 24 hours a day.
In the meantime, nothing says "summer time" quite like lovely music floating through the warm evening air. The Met's Summer HD Festival at Lincoln Center Plaza allows guests to experience the magic of the opera through ten free screenings of some of the most famous productions. The festival typically starts in August and runs for ten consecutive evenings.
Attraction Information
- Hours:
- Monday through Saturday: 10am to 8pm, Sunday: 12pm to 6pm
- Subway Stop:
- 1 train to the 66th Street/Lincoln Center Station
- Contact:
- Location: 1423 Broadway (at 64th street) New York, NY
- Phone: 212-362-2000
- Fax (for international orders): 212-870-7695
- Website: www.metoperafamily.org
