An audience estimated at more than 3,000 people gathered on Lincoln Center Plaza to watch the performance of Lucia on a large screen that stretched across the center arches of the Metropolitan Opera House. When the first act was over the audience stood, stretched, brought out snacks, and chatted in the growing twilight. They began to settle down once again as the evening’s on-screen host Mary Jo Heath did live interviews with the production team of Lucia (director Mary Zimmermann, set designer Daniel Ostling, and costume designer Mara Blumenfeld), followed by short interviews with Plácido Domingo (who is conducting the season’s premiere of Roméo et Juliette tomorrow night), and director Bartlett Sherr (Il Barbiere di Siviglia). This opening night performance is dedicated to the memory of Beverly Sills, and in tribute of the great artist there was a short film and sound montage celebrating her life in the theater. Photos of Sills in some of her greatest roles flashed across the screen. Afterwards there was a brief silence, followed by enthusiastic applause and cries of “Brava” from the audience, some of whom were moved to tears.

The Met’s 2007–08 season opens with Donizetti’s bel canto masterpiece Lucia di Lammermoor, in a new production by Tony Award-winning director Mary Zimmerman, conducted by Met Music Director James Levine. Natalie Dessay sings the tragic title heroine, Marcello Giordani stars as her lover Edgardo, and Mariusz Kwiecien is Lucia’s brother Enrico. The performance, beginning at 6.30 P.M., is transmitted live to Lincoln Center Plaza and to Times Square.

Lucia di Lammermoor will be the first of seven new productions this season, which runs through May 17. For information on tickets and membership, visit MetOpera.org or call 1-800-Met-Opera (1-800-638-6737).

Just one more day until the Met rolls out the red carpet for the opening of the 2007–08 season! Mary Zimmerman’s new production of Lucia di Lammermoor is conducted by James Levine. The gala performance starts at 6.30 P.M. on Monday night, with live transmissions to Lincoln Center Plaza and Times Square. Two thousand free tickets for the plazacast are available at the Met box office starting today at noon, on a first come, first served basis, with a two-ticket limit per person. No tickets are necessary for the Times Square relay.
There are no more tickets available for the plazacast.