Step behind the curtains of what many consider the most famous opera stage in the world.
The Metropolitan Opera invited The Knockturnal to an exclusive tour of their incredible opera house. On May 20th, they will celebrate Barbara Tober’s unwavering support. Her remarkable contributions as a philanthropist and arts patron will be acknowledged during ‘On Stage at the Metropolitan Opera’ – an evening that promises to transform the stage into a lavish black-tie affair, complete with performances by talented Met artists.
Barbara Tober welcomed us all and opened the reception by sharing her love for this prestigious establishment. She told us that she’s been going to the opera since she was 8 and shared a quote that stuck with us: “Life is an opera!” she says, “Let’s face it. The whole thing is an opera, every day of our lives.”
According to their website, the Metropolitan Opera was founded in 1883, with its first opera house built on Broadway and 39th Street by a group of wealthy businessmen who wanted their own theater. The Met has given the U.S. premieres of some of the most important operas in the repertory.
NEW YORK, NY – MARCH 25: CeCe Cord, Michele Gerber Klein, Susan Gutfreund and Christopher Mason attend Peter Gelb and Barbara Tober Backstage at the Metropolitan Opera at Metropolitan Opera House at Lincoln Center on March 25, 2024 in New York. (Photo by Patrick McMullan/PMC) *
The opera house itself was jaw-dropping! From the miles of red velvet carpet to the shimmering Lobmeyer chandeliers endowed by Barbara herself, this place was unforgettable. The generous chandelier gifts were in honor of her husband, the late and great Donald Gibbs Tober, who loved The Met so much.
Marta Nottebohm, an Advisory Director on the Metropolitan Opera Board and our lovely tour guide for the afternoon, took us backstage where the magic happens. She talked us through the wardrobe department, set design, stage manager’s area, rehearsals, and more. I asked her to share her favorite fact about the Met Opera House, and she told The Knockturnal, “All the wood in the opera stage comes from one tree. It’s hard to imagine, I mean, it covers the whole auditorium.” The wood she was referring to comes from the African Rosewood Tree.
This exclusive tour was indeed special, and I hope Barbara Tober enjoys her special night on May 20.