The Metropolitan Opera of New York (The Met)

The Metropolitan Opera of New York (or as locals call it, The Met) is the principal and most prestigious opera house in the United States, one of the world’s leading musical theaters. Although it has existed since 1883, The Met acquired its current building at Lincoln Center relatively recently, in 1966.

But why is the opera called The Met if The Met is a museum? It turns out it’s all quite interesting: both the museum and the opera share the prefix “Metropolitan”—from the Greek mētēr (mother) and polis (city), meaning “mother city” or “chief city”—meaning, the most important in culture.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York (The Met)

Therefore, they can only be distinguished by context and time of day. If someone invites you to go to The Met in the morning, it’s definitely to the museum, and if someone says they went to The Met last night, it’s about the opera.

Why is The Met in New York special?

Everything about it is very American:

It’s the largest opera house in the United States. Its auditorium seats 3,975 (compared to La Scala’s 2,000 and the Vienna State Opera’s 1,700).

The stage is one of the most technologically advanced in the world: it rotates, rises, and recedes. It features seven hydraulic lifts, 50 technical hatches, and a stage “flying” system. Plus, there’s a huge turning circle with a diameter of 15 meters.

Its annual budget is approximately $300 million, more than most opera houses in Europe (Paris’s is approximately €200 million, Vienna’s is approximately €170 million).

It has its own HD studio for broadcasting worldwide. The best singers of the 20th and 21st centuries have performed on its stage—Pavarotti, Callas, Domingo, and dozens more.

Interestingly, the New York Met has 175 standing seats, making opera much more accessible. Tickets start at $25. The best seats typically cost around $400.

During the tour, we were shown the stage itself during set assembly, the performers’ rest rooms, the costume-making room, and the set-making room, but unfortunately, photography was prohibited there.

I vividly remember a small door called “for donkeys and dignitaries”—it’s the door through which animals are brought in for performances. This happens often: dogs, donkeys, and horses perform on stage. This same door is also used when VIPs attend the opera and wish to enter the auditorium incognito.