Lincoln Center Plaza turns into an open-air opera house for six nights, and this is the bel canto one: Lisette Oropesa's mad scene and Lawrence Brownlee's high notes, blown up on the front of the Met itself while the fountain runs behind you. Over 2,500 seats go out free with no ticket, no line-up-at-dawn ritual and no dress code, which makes it the single easiest way to try opera in this city. If you have been curious about the Met but not $150-curious, take the free seat.
What to expect
Chairs are set out across the plaza facing the opera house, and the performance is projected onto the building's facade with full sound. People arrive early with picnics and settle in; the surrounding restaurants and the fountain stay busy through the screening. Roughly three hours of running time, and there are no rain dates, so weather cancels rather than postpones.
Good to know
- 1 train to 66th Street-Lincoln Center drops you at the plaza
- Seats are first-come, first-served — come well before start time for a good sightline
- No tickets, no reservations, no dress code
- Bring a layer; the plaza cools off once the sun is down
- There are no rain dates, so check the forecast before committing
- Around three hours, and you are free to leave between acts
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Common questions
Do I need a ticket?
No. All 2,500-plus plaza seats are free and first-come, first-served with no ticket required.
Is this a live performance?
No — it is a high-definition recording from the Met's Live in HD series, projected on the opera house facade with full sound.
What happens if it rains?
The festival has no rain dates, so a rained-out screening is simply cancelled rather than rescheduled.
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