The Metropolitan Opera in New York City

An opera at the Metropolitan Opera House located in Lincoln Center is a necessary night out for anyone, regardless of whether or not you like opera. Between the amazing MET Opera House, the awe-inspiring opera singers, and the overall experience of having an elegant night out, what is not to like.

The Metropolitan Opera House is a beautiful glass building with 11 chandeliers in the lobby, 21 in the auditorium, a portrait gallery, and classic, elegant red and gold interior. Although opera has the reputation of being a pricey night out, the Metropolitan has challenged that by offering their weekly drawings called the Weekend/Weekday Rush tickets for $25 orchestra seats, which is how I ended up going to see L'Elisir D'Amore, their must-see comedy running this season. 

(My sister and I before the opera in our orchestra seats)

 Upon entering the Metropolitan Opera House, you are immediately awe-struck by the sheer number and size of the constellation like chandeliers and how they play into the modern glass interior as well as the classically elegant interior. We recommend arriving early to take pictures and walk around a bit (even though you will have a 20-minute intermission). On the lower level is a portrait gallery while the upper level and main levels feature some of the costumes previously worn in the Met's most famous operas. 

As you make your way to your seats, which if you do the rush tickets will be orchestra level, you will notice how comfortable the ambiance of the room is while still maintaining its modernity through the high-tech subtitles that run electronically on the bars located behind each chair. 

The opera itself, with this review being based on L'Elisir D'Amore, is phenomenal! The opera singers have amazing voices, the sets are well done and beautiful, even if you are not following the subtitles the acting of the singers is good enough to know what is going on most of the time, and the plots of all of the operas featured are wonderful. L'Elisir D'Amore is an Italian opera a peasant (Namorino) who is in love with a wealthy landowner (Adina) who shows no interest in his advances. One day a self-proclaimed "doctor" and seller of potions said to cure and resolve any problem shows up and sells Namorino a love potion. As to not spoil the entire plot (although if you were to google L'Elisir D'Amore, it would be spoiled for you), that it all I will write about it other than this opera is so wonderful, it is short, sweet, and entertaining with the characters keeping you laughing the whole way through. 

Our Recommendation: The point is, is if you can make it to an opera at the Metropolitan Opera House, go! It really is a wonderful experience that you will not regret. Our only advice to you would be that if you plan on going for the rush tickets, be flexible with which operas you will see as the more popular ones have less seats available to offer up last minute. We really wanted to see La Boheme but it was so sold out that only one set of rush tickets were given out. Also, note that you can only enter for the tickets on the Monday before the performance (for weekend performances) and the winners will be announced on the website around noon on Tuesday. From there you must call their box office to buy the tickets using a credit card by 5pm on Wednesday or your tickets will be forfeited to those on the waiting list.

Lincoln Center Plaza New York, NY - USA - 10023
+1(212)362-6000
To see what is currently showing at the Metropolitan Opera, click here.
To enter to win discounted tickets, click here.
To buy tickets, click here.