New York, NY: Metropolitan Opera House (old)

Country: United States of America
State: New York
City: New York
Location: 39th Street / Broadway

Built 1880-1883 by Josiah Cleaveland Cady for a group of businessmen. Opened 22 Oct 1883 with Gounod's "Faust". 1883 addition of two office towers to each side of the building. 1892 interior damaged by fire, subsequently rebuilt while removing 52 of the original 122 boxes. 1940 removal of Grand Tier boxes. 3045 seats. Closed 1966 after the new "Metropolitan Opera House" at Lincoln Center was opened. Demolished 1967.

Notable world premieres:

  • Giacomo Puccini: La fanciulla del West (10 Dec 1910)
  • Horatio Parker: Mona (14 Mar 1912)
  • Walter Damrosch: Cyrano (27 Feb 1913)
  • Victor Herbert: Madeleine (24 Jan 1914)
  • Umberto Giordano: Madame Sans-Gêne (25 Jan 1915)
  • Enrique Granados: Goyescas (opera, 28 Jan 1916)
  • Henry De Koven: The Canterbury Pilgrims (8 Mar 1917)
  • Charles Wakefield Cadman: The Robin Woman: Shanewis (23 March 1918)
  • Giacomo Puccini: Il Trittico (Il Tabarro / Suor Angelica / Gianni Schicchi, 14 Dec 1918)
  • Joseph Carl Breil: The Legend / John Hugo: The Temple Dancer (12 Mar 1919)
  • Henry Kimball Hadley: Cleopatra's Night (31 Jan 1920)
  • Deems Taylor: The King's Henchman (17 Feb 1927)
  • Deems Taylor: Peter Ibbetson (1931)
  • Louis Gruenberg: The Emperor Jones (7 Jan 1933)
  • Howard Hanson: Merry Mount (staged premiere, 10 Feb 1934)
  • John Seymour: In the Pasha's Garden (24 Jan 1935)
  • Walter Damrosch: The Man Without a Country (12 May 1937)
  • Gian Carlo Menotti: The Island God (20 Feb 1942)
  • Bernard Rogers: The Warrior (11 Jan 1947)
  • Samuel Barber: Vanessa (15 Jan 1958)

[New York, NY: Metropolitan Opera House (old)] Front Text: "Metropolitan Opera House, New York"
Publisher: Ill. P. Card Co., New York
Type: Undivided Back
Size: Classic
Sent: from Brooklyn NY to Thum (Germany), 1904

[New York, NY: Metropolitan Opera House (old)] Front Text: "Metropolitan Opera House, Broadway, New York City"
Reverse Text: "Metropolitan Opera House, New York City - The Metropolitan Opera House is located on the corner of Broadway and 39th Street. It is used exclusively for Grand Opera, all of the world most famous opera singers having played here."
Publisher: Manhattan Post Card Co., New York; C. T. Photochrom
Type: Divided Back
Size: Classic
Not sent.

[New York, NY: Metropolitan Opera House (old)] Front Text: "Gala Opening - Old Metropolitan Opera House - New York - painted by Chen Chi - Watercolor - Original size 37" x 73""
Type: postcard reproduction of a painting by Chen Chi (1961)
Size: Modern
Not sent.

[New York, NY: Metropolitan Opera House (old)] Front Text: "Metropolitan Opera House Concert with Pianist Joseph Hofmann, New York, Nov. 28, 1937"
Publisher: Photo/Chronicles Ltd., New York; S 2278
Type: postcard reproduction of an old photograph
Size: Modern
Not sent.


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