Filed under: architecture, culture, featuredarticle, music, opera, top-feature
The Elegance of Opera in New York City
If you crave the elegance of days past, the glamor of nights on the town in furs and pearls, there is one place in New York that you must visit: the Metropolitan Opera House. This symbol of high culture in Lincoln Center on the Upper West Side of Manhattan still exudes that atmosphere of class where opera aficionados, music fans, and those who simply love a good spectacle pile into the magnificent opera house for a night of entertainment. Put your best high heels on and prepare to be amazed.
Opera, similar to many other forms of music, enters unchartered waters when it is performed live. The acoustics of the Metropolitan Opera House are even more impressive than the beauty of the building. When you plan a night at the opera in New York, you are not only planning a night on the town, but also a visit to one of New York City’s landmarks. This happens to be a rare landmark where you can sip champagne as you admire the architecture.
Recently I had tickets to La Boheme, the classic opera by Puccini about being young, poor, and in love in Paris. One common question I get about the opera is, ‘how are you supposed to know what is going on in the storyline?’ The Met provides a simple solution to this problem by placing a small screen with subtitles in English, Spanish, or German at every seat. This makes it possible to enjoy the performance and keep up with the storyline without having to crane your neck to the top of the stage for a large screen with translations, or even worse, no translations at all.
With tickets in my hand for a Saturday night performance, we set out for the Upper West Side. Weekend performances generally start at 8:30 pm (while weekday performances begin earlier at 8:00 pm). While it may be tempting to arrive right in time for the curtain, to make the most of the experience arrive early and sip a glass of champagne while watching New York’s elite filter through the front doors. Climbing the grand red-carpeted staircase to your seat, the anticipation for the start of the performance will build until you hear the first note from the orchestra – almost precisely on time.
The Metropolitan Opera House delivers an exhilarating assault on the senses. Not only is the music and singing of the highest quality, but the set design is at times breathtaking. One act of La Boheme takes place on the streets of Paris, and a recreated street scene contained over 100 actors on stage, along with a pony pulling a cart, and a parade celebrating Christmas. In another act, snow fell so gracefully that in the audience people pulled up the collars of their coats, almost feeling the cold from the stage.
Like any great evening at the theater, the action on stage is only part of the fun. During the intermission, be sure to leave your seat and enjoy a glass of champagne. If the weather isn’t too chilly, step out onto the balcony in the front of the opera house to watch the action below. At $16 a glass, you might want to savor the flute of bubbly, or if you’re in the mood for a splurge, arrange to take a meal during the intermission at the elegant Grand Tier Restaurant. This is also the perfect place to have a bite before the show (the restaurant opens two hours prior to the curtain) and reservations in advance are essential.
Don’t be surprise to see women in gowns and men in sharply cut suits at the Met – a Saturday evening performance especially will bring the windows of Bloomingdales, Barneys, and Bergdorf Goodman to life. By the final act, you will have mastered reading the subtitles while simultaneously taking in every detail from the stage. I am always surprised at the amount of physical comedy and good humor that is woven through hopelessly dramatic operas, making the characters even more likable. At the conclusion of the opera, stay for the entire standing ovation to show your appreciation for the performances.
When the opera is finished, a night on the town in New York has just begun. Many regular attendees wait until after the show to have dinner, and one of the most popular places to enjoy a late, leisurely meal is just across the street at Bar Boulud. Famous chef and restauranteur Daniel Boulud has a few dining options across New York, but this location on Broadway is known as his casual bistro. Expect to be transported to Paris as you nibble on Parisian charcuterie and signature terrines. If you prefer to dine pre-theater, this restaurant also offers a three-course prix-fixe for $42. Nibbling on charcuterie and cheese wouldn’t be complete without a bottle of French wine — this restaurant offers an impressive cellar stocked with wines from Burgundy and the Rhone Valley.
A night of high culture doesn’t have to come with high prices. While there are plenty of opportunities to splurge at the opera, those visitors who want the experience without the price tag have great alternatives. Tickets in the family circle, the very top floor of the opera house, are often on sale for as cheap as $20 a ticket. You still have the subtitles at each individual seat, and this vantage point allows you to take in all the action on stage at one time. If you’re interested in watching the musicians in the orchestra, you can do this from the family circle and not from the seats on the floor. For an affordable bite to eat before the show, head to ‘wichcraft on Broadway. This is Tom Colicchio’s (from Top Chef) soup and sandwich shop, where you can also enjoy a glass of wine or draft beer. It is true, a night at the opera for under $50 is attainable.
No matter what you pay for tickets and refreshments, the moment the curtain goes up and you hear that first note, the price tag of the evening will fade from memory. Opera has passed the test of time over centuries; it is a form of entertainment that is truly timeless. The fact that it is also a fashionable and elegant night on the town is a sweet cherry on top of the cultural experience.
The Basics:
- The Metropolitan Opera House. Address: Lincoln Center, Broadway between 62nd and 65th streets. (travel guide) To reach the Met, take the subway line 1 to 66th street Lincoln Center or arrive by taxi. Tickets for the Met cost anywhere from $20 for Family Circle tickets to $320 for prime tickets in the front of the orchestra section.
- La Boheme is currently playing on selected evenings at the Metropolitan Opera House through the end of February, 2011.
- The Grand Tier Restaurant is an elegant way to begin your evening at the Met or to enjoy a meal during intermission (travelguide). Prices for intermission range from $15 for appetizers to $42 for main courses. There is also a pre-curtain prix-fixe for $52 for two courses. Reservations in advance are essential
- Bar Boulud. Address: 1900 Broadway, between 63rd and 64th Streets. (travel guide) A la carte prices range from $15 for appetizers to $33 for entrees. A 3-course pre-theater prix-fixe is available for $42 and charcuterie and cheese plates are available from $10 – $20 each. Reservations in advance are essential.
- ‘wichcraft. Address: Broadway at 62nd street. (map) Soups for $3.95 and sandwiches from $6.95. Reservations aren’t necessary.
Photo Credit: Alan Strakey via flickr (exterior); interior from the personal collection of Jessica Colley.
3 Comments
Jessica, if this article doesn’t inspire someone to go the opera in NYC, I don’t know what will. I hate to say that I’ve only been to the Metropolitan Opera House on a tour. I’ve always wanted to attend an opera, especially in NYC, but it just hasn’t worked out. Your article is telling me to make it happen as soon as possible! The after-opera options sound inviting, too.
Thanks Cathy! I adore the opera in NYC.. I’m glad the article had its intended effect! Thanks for reading.