Through the purchase of permanent box seats, the owners were able to attend any performances at any time and were guaranteed seats. The remaining performances for that year were canceled while the opera house was rebuilt.ĭuring the 1890s the opera house was owned entirely by 35 box-holders who made up the Metropolitan Opera and Real Estate Company. In 1892, a fire broke out in the paint shop of the theater and spread to the backstage area and the main auditorium. These seats didn't have access to the main part of the building, so socializing with the other attendees was nearly impossible. Opera goers who couldn't afford the more expensive tickets, could purchase seats at the top level of the theater for only $5, but had to enter the seating area (called the Family Circle) from a different entrance. The original building included box seats on every tier except for the highest level. A design competition was held for the construction of the first building, a designer hired and the building completed in just three years. The first opera house built for the Met was in 1883 on Broadway and 39th Street. Over the years, the Metropolitan Opera has had several homes, although each building's foundation has always been poured in New York City. In its early years, the opera hosted talent such as Christine Nilsson, Marcella Sembrich, Rosa Ponselle and more recent famous names include the late Luciano Pavarotti. Composers, musicians, and choreographers from countries all over the world come to work at the Met to use their talents in the name of art. The Metropolitan Opera consists of opera singers, performers, dancers, orchestras, choruses, costume designers, set builders and conductors all working together to create living pieces of art. The Met's beginnings can't quite be considered humble, but the opera house's founders and its performers worked hard in the early years to establish the Met among New York City's artistic society. Established more than 100 years ago, the Met has grown to become one of the most sought after artistic establishments of not only New York City, but throughout the world.
The Metropolitan Opera, or the Met as it's often called, is a staple of the performing arts, theater and culture in America.
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