Known in the business as The Met. The opera house, which had a capacity of 3045, opened on 22 Oct 1883 with a production of Gounod’s Faust. Between then and 1891 the American premières of most of Wagner's later works were given. In this period these operas were all sung in German.
A serious fire in 1892 led to rebuilding, which increased the original capacity to 3849. From its inception the house belonged to a group of its box-holders who had raised the money to build. It remained in their hands until 1940, when it was bought out by the company.
After a rocky financial start, the Met quickly gained international importance. Successive managements engaged the most sought-after artists from Europe. These included singers of the calibre of Lilli Lehmann and Caruso and, as conductors, the composers Gustav Mahler and Felix Mottl.
From 1935 Toscanini reigned as chief conductor. This period saw the world premières of Puccini's La fanciulla del West, and Humperdinck's Königskinder.
From its earliest seasons, the Met had been a house to which singers aspired. By the twentieth century the management was encouraging American stars as well as bringing in those from Europe. This policy was encouraged during the economies forced by the Depression. Singers such as Leonard Warren, Dorothy Kirsten and Jan Peerce appeared with the company between 1935 and 1950. This was also a period of great successes with the Wagner repertoire.
In December 1939 the first of the weekly Texaco-Met live radio broadcasts began. Audiences for these now reach over ten million listeners.
By 1966 the new Met. had opened in the Lincoln Centre. It was designed by Wallace Harrison and built for $46 million, mostly raised by private subscription. Modern stage techniques, more works sung in English and directors brought in from the theatre characterised the change. Under the general manager Rudolf Bing the Italian repertoire had also come into its own, performed by singers such as Callas, Di Stefano and De los Angeles.
James Levine was appointed principal conductor in 1972 and artistic director in 1986. He is still masterminding the artistic success of the company.
The Lincoln Centre complex also houses the New York City Opera, Philharmonic Hall and The Julliard School.
