On September 16, 1966, the
Metropolitan Opera House opened in its new home in Lincoln Center with the
world premiere of Samuel Barber’sAntony and Cleopatra. The next day, the front
page of the New York Timesproclaimed the opening “a crescendo of
splendor,” and a new era of theatrical possibility was born. This season, the
Met celebrates 50 years in its Lincoln Center home with a season-long series of
events, culminating in a special all-star gala performance on May 7, 2017. And
on the web, we’ll be paying regular tribute to the house’s many architectural
and artistic milestones of the past five decades. Check back often for new
anniversary-related content, including a forthcoming interactive timeline.
The new Met opened at Lincoln
Center in September 1966. But it took more than a decade to get to that
memorable night. After the area around what is known as Lincoln Square was
designated for renewal in 1955 and Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts was
incorporated the following year, ground was finally broken for construction to
begin on May 14, 1959—by President Eisenhower himself. “Jovial and vigorous,”
the New York Times reported, “the President shoveled up freshly
softened dirt to break ground for the $75,000,000 music, opera, theatre and
dance project at West Sixty-Fourth Street and Broadway.” (After that, the paper
adds, “he shoveled four times more for photographers.”) Leonard Bernstein
conducted the New York Philharmonic in Aaron Copland’s Fanfare for the
Common Man, and many other luminaries from politics and the arts attended the
ceremony. Seen here is the building site in February 1960.
ARTICLES
Bing’s
Building
Rudolf Bing, general manager of the
Metropolitan Opera from 1950 to 1972, was one of the most influential figures
in the history of the company. He was a driving force behind the Met’s
move to its new home at Lincoln Center...
Chagall and
His Murals
When planning the Met’s inaugural season
at Lincoln Center, General Manager Rudolf Bing commissioned Marc Chagall to
design the sets and costumes for a new production of Mozart’s Die
Zauberflöte, directed by Günther Rennert...
Park Premiere
For more than 50 years, the Met has
offered free performances in parks throughout New York City during the summer
months. The very first company performance in Central Park took place as part
of the Met’s inaugural Lincoln Center season...
Share Your Memory
Share your personal Met memory from
50 years at Lincoln Center!
My mother sang more than 450 performances
at the Met while I was between the ages of zero and 18. As a result, I grew up
backstage. One of the dressers, Arlene, crocheted outfits for my Cabbage Patch
kids while my mother sang Flora in La Traviata or Annio in Clemenza di Tito.
The legendary makeup artist Victor patted foundation on my young cheeks, and
showed me how to show off my cheekbones. If certain stage managers were on,
they might let me enter the stage area with my mother, through imposing double
doors from the hall outside of the dressing rooms into the wing area of the
stage. I actually did get to go on the stage myself, though, as a member of
Elena Doria’s children’s chorus. Eating bagels in the second act of
Zeffirelli’s La Bohème and ice cream during Pagliacci are some of my favorite
memories. I love every bit of the Met, from the marble peeking out from the
sides of the red carpeted staircase (I used to challenge myself to only walk on
the white!) to the grand tier balcony where my husband asked me to marry him.
—Neylan McBaine (Salt Lake City, UT)
Heard my first Saturday broadcast at about
12 years old, now I am 77 and subscribe to Sirius XM for the historic
broadcasts. I knew Leonard Bernstein; he was a wonderful, gifted human being,
then Milton cross passed, I sent a small contribution in his memory, his niece
sent me a handwritten thank you note.
—Thomas Nawn (Fredericksburg, VA)
Two memories from last season: Hearing
Dmitri Hvorostovsky as Countbdi Luna singing Il balen del duo sorriso; it was
absolutely heart stopping! Witnessing a Met stagehand racing up to the Family
Circle and doing an amazing job fixing a broken seat in front of me right
before the curtain went up.
http://www.metopera.org/Discover/50th-Anniversary/
No hay comentarios:
Publicar un comentario