Opera had its origins in 16th century Italy and over the next 100 years moved into England, France and Germany before crossing the pond.
In an opera, singers and musicians fuse text (libretto) and musical score to create magic.
If you’re a fan of the opera, here are some cheap options for you in New York City:
Metropolitan Opera
Lincoln Center
(Between W.62nd St and W.65th St and between Columbus Ave and Amsterdam Ave)
New York, NY 10023
Ph: 212-362-6000
Disgustingly high priced tickets running into several hundred dollars for a single performance. Tickets can be as high as $650 in the Orchestra section and even higher (over $850) in the Parterre section.
Do NOT even consider paying those outrageous Ticket fees unless you have taken complete leave of your senses or want to add to the coffers of the 1%.
Rush Tickets
$25 Rush Tickets are available for the Met Opera Mon-Sat (excludes galas and opening nights of new productions).
You can buy Rush tickets online only now (previously you could also get them at the box office).
The catch is that tickets are limited. Also, specific seat locations are chosen the Metropolitan Opera and you have no choice.
Another irritating restriction is that customers can buy a maximum of two tickets to one performance every seven days.
Met Opera claims it will offer at least 100 tickets Monday-Thursday at the $25 per ticket price. But it’s being niggardly dropping this down to 20 tickets for Friday and Saturday.
Student Tickets
Full-time undergraduate and graduate students can purchase discounted Met Opera tickets online, by phone (212-362-6000) and at the Box Office.
Student tickets cost $35 PLUS $2.50 service fee. A maximum of four tickets per performance can be purchased.
Fridays Under 40
The Met Opera is engaging in age discrimination but it’s still a discount.
Met Opera tickets for Fridays Under 40 in the 2016-17 season will go on sale on June 26, 2016.
Subway: 1 to 66 St (Lincoln Center)
Web site: http://www.metoperafamily.org
New York Grand Opera
Naumberg Bandshell
Central Park
72nd St at mid-Park
New York, NY
FREE Opera conducted by Vincent La Selva
Subway: B, C to 72nd St; 6 to 68 St-Hunter College
Web site: http://www.newyorkgrandopera.org
New York City Opera
75 Broad St
New York, NY 10004
Ph: 646-758-9440
Cheap Rush Tickets. Check price & location on New York City Opera web site.
Web site: http://www.nycopera.com
Bronx Opera
5 Minerva Place, 2J
Bronx, NY 10468
Ph: 718-365-4209
Founded in 1967 by Michal Spierman, the Bronx Opera hosts two productions (one known and the other rarely-performed) a year.
Performances are at the Lovinger Theatre, Lehman College in the Bronx and elsewhere.
Subway (to Lovinger Theatre): D or 4 to Bedford Blvd.
Tickets are modestly priced from $15-$30. Students and Seniors get $5 discount.
FREE – Fall and Spring Orchestra concerts.
Web site: http://www.bronxopera.org