The Metropolitan Opera Opens Gates to the Public for Free

For the first time, the lobby of the Metropolitan Opera House will be open to the public, free of charge, on weekday mornings (10 a.m. to 2 p.m.) beginning Tuesday, October 4 and continuing through the end of the opera season. Visitors to the Met can walk up the famous grand staircase of the opera house, admire the iconic crystal chandeliers, or step out onto the balcony overlooking Lincoln Center Plaza. Personal photography will be permitted in all public areas of the house, allowing tourists or locals to capture a picture of a classic New York moment. In addition, a large television monitor will give visitors a live look at what's happening on the Met stage, where rehearsals happen every morning for the 225 opera performances the company presents each season. Refreshments will be available for purchase.

The Met is celebrating the 50th anniversary of its home at Lincoln Center this year, and visitors can also take in a new free exhibition in the lower level of the lobby, Founder's Hall. The show features information and photographs on the building of the house at Lincoln Center, a documentary containing rare rehearsal and performance footage from the building's 1966 opening, and in-depth information on the nine new productions that anchored the historic 1966-67 season. In addition to self-guided tour materials, a visitor guide will be on hand to answer questions and give more information about the institution and the building itself.

The Met will open its 50th anniversary season at Lincoln Center on Monday, September 26 with a new production of Wagner's Tristan und Isolde, conducted by Sir Simon Rattle, directed by Mariusz Treli?ski, and starring Nina Stemme and Stuart Skelton in the leading roles. For more information on the Met season, please visit www.metopera.org.

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