Contact: Colleen Roche or Kim Serafin (212) 788-2958
The Mayor was joined by Cultural Affairs Commissioner Schuyler Chapin, Metropolitan Opera General Manager Joe Volpe, Metropolitan Opera Board members and many celebrated artists.
"Throughout New York City's history, the Metropolitan Opera House has been one of our greatest institutions -- helping to make New York City the cultural capital of the world," said Mayor Giuliani. "On behalf of all opera enthusiasts the world over, it is my privilege to proclaim today as Metropolitan Opera Day in New York City in appreciation for three decades of entertainment, beauty and excellence."
The Metropolitan Opera House first opened its doors on Broadway at 39th Street in 1883 with a performance of Gounod's Faust. After a fire destroyed its interior in 1892, the theatre was rebuilt and reopened the following year. The Metropolitan moved to its current site at Lincoln Center and opened on September 16, 1966 with the world premiere of Samuel Barber's Antony and Cleopatra.
The 1996-97 season will include new productions of Carmen, Eugene Onegin, Fedora and Wozzeck as well as a Metropolitan Opera premiere of A Midsummer Night's Dream in addition to their repertory productions. Each year, the Metropolitan stages more than 200 opera performances in New York alone with more than 750,000 people attending these performances in an average season.