Metropolitan Opera

• 1. Founding And Early Years

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  On the 28th of April 1880, twenty-two men gathered inside Delmonico's restaurant in New York City to plan a new opera house. These founders included members of the Morgan, Roosevelt, and Vanderbilt families who had been excluded from the older Academy of Music. They wanted to build a theater that would outshine their rivals and allow them to display their wealth. The new Metropolitan Opera House opened on the 22nd of October 1883 with a performance of Charles Gounod's Faust. Christina Nilsson starred as Marguerite in that opening night production. Henry Abbey served as manager for the inaugural season which ran from 1883 to 1884. That first year featured 150 performances of 20 different operas sung entirely in Italian. The company toured extensively during the winter and spring of 1884 visiting cities like Boston Philadelphia Chicago St. Louis Cincinnati Washington D.C. and Baltimore. Back in New York the final gala of that season raised money for Mr. Abbey but resulted in large financial deficits.

• 2. Administrative Evolution

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  Giulio Gatti-Casazza held the position of general manager from 1908 until 1935 spanning 27 years. He arrived at the Met after leading Milan's La Scala Opera House bringing conductor Arturo Toscanini with him. Toscanini served as principal conductor without an official title from 1908 to 1915 setting standards for decades. Rudolf Bing took over leadership in 1950 serving until 1972 and modernized ticket sales while ending Tuesday nights in Philadelphia. Joseph Volpe became general manager in 1990 advancing from within the ranks having started as a carpenter in 1964. Peter Gelb succeeded Volpe in 2006 and initiated high-definition cinema broadcasts. James Levine emerged as the Met's principal artistic leader through the last third of the 20th century after being engaged by Bing in 1971. Levine became music director in 1976 and remained until his tenure concluded in 2016 following sexual abuse allegations. Yannick Nézet-Séguin succeeded Levine as music director starting in February 2018.

• 3. Lincoln Center Relocation

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  The Metropolitan Opera moved from its original home on 39th Street to Lincoln Center in 1966. The old house located at 1411 Broadway between 39th and 40th Streets was designed by J. Cleaveland Cady and opened the 22nd of October 1883. It suffered a fire on the 27th of August 1892 but reopened that fall with renovations completed in 1903. The theater had a seating capacity of 3,625 plus 224 standing room places. A lavish farewell gala occurred the 16th of April 1966 before the building closed for good. Demolition happened in 1967 despite preservation efforts. The new opera house designed by Wallace K. Harrison opened the 16th of September 1966 featuring Samuel Barber's Antony and Cleopatra. This venue has approximately 3,732 seats plus 245 standing room places. Marc Chagall created two murals measuring 30 by 36 feet titled The Triumph of Music and The Sources of Music for the lobby. Financial struggles during the Great Depression led to radio broadcasts starting the 25th of December 1931 which helped save the company.

• 4. Technological Broadcasts

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  Radio pioneer Lee de Forest broadcast experimentally from the Met stage January 1910 reaching as far as Newark New Jersey. The first network broadcast aired the 25th of December 1931 featuring Engelbert Humperdinck's Hänsel und Gretel. Regular complete operas began the 11th of March 1933 with Tristan und Isolde starring Frida Leider and Lauritz Melchior. Milton Cross served as announcer from 1931 until his death in 1975 followed by Peter Allen who worked through 2003, 04. Margaret Juntwait took over hosting duties beginning that season. Live high-definition video transmissions started the 30th of December 2006 into movie theaters worldwide. The first HD broadcast was Julie Taymor's production of The Magic Flute running 110 minutes. By the end of the 2007-08 season 920,000 people attended screenings exceeding total live attendance at the house. Each simulcast cost between $850,000 and $1 million to produce bringing in gross revenues of $13.3 million from North America alone. The Met Opera on Demand archive holds more than 850 complete performances spanning 90 years available via streaming services like Apple Music Spotify and iTunes.

• 5. Controversies And Scandals

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  A December 2017 news article triggered an investigation into James Levine regarding sexual abuse allegations dating back to the 1980s. The company suspended ties with Levine canceling all upcoming engagements. Gelb had been contacted directly by a police detective October 2016 about allegations but did not suspend Levine until over a year later. Investigations concluded March 2018 stating there was conclusive evidence for sexually abusive conduct. On the 12th of March 2018 the company announced full termination including rescinding his title of music director emeritus. Levine filed suit against the company the 14th of April 2016 claiming breach of contract and defamation before settling privately the 7th of August 2019. Controversy also surrounded John Adams's opera The Death of Klinghoffer in 2014 due to accusations it was antisemitic. Demonstrators chanted Shame on Gelb while Gelb canceled worldwide HD video presentations but kept live performances scheduled for October and November 2014. Financial instability emerged in 2025 when Peter Gelb announced annual winter residencies at Saudi Arabia's Royal Diriyah Opera House receiving over $200 million over eight years. In 2026 Gelb stated contributions from Saudis were delayed leading to production cuts layoffs of 22 employees and consideration selling Chagall murals.

• 6. Global Outreach And Tours

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  The Met began touring nationally starting 1898 with six-week trips following its New York season. Cities included Cleveland where Newton D. Baker spearheaded underwriting efforts leading to three consecutive years of eight-engagement performances. The Northern Ohio Opera Association formed by Robert J. Bulkley supported long-term contracts. International tours started with Paris in 1910 marking the first European visit. A notable tour of Japan occurred May, June 1975 featuring Marilyn Horne as Carmen and Joan Sutherland as Violetta. The company performed Puccini's La Bohème Verdi's Don Carlo and Donizetti's Lucia di Lammermoor during a 2011 trip following the Fukushima nuclear disaster. Beginning 2023 the orchestra toured Europe visiting London Paris and Baden-Baden making its first Asian tour summer 2024 stopping Seoul Hyogo Tokyo and Taipei. An annual winter residency at Riyadh's Royal Diriyah Opera House was announced for five years starting 2025. This arrangement came after financial difficulties forced withdrawal of over one-third of the endowment fund. The Philadelphia Opera House purchased 1910 served regular Tuesday night performances until sold April 1920 hosting nearly 900 performances by 1961.