MetoperaFamily:纽约大都会歌剧院是美国乃至世界著名歌剧院之一，建成于1965年，是纽约林肯表演艺术中心的核心部分，它的建筑风格，融古典与现代于一体，规模庞大，能容纳4000多名观众，是全世界屈指可数的大剧院之一。

纽约大都会歌剧院（The Metropolitan Opera）是纽约一个具有领导地位的世界级的歌剧院。大都会歌剧院的前身，是19世纪后半叶位于百老汇第39号大街与第40号大街之间的一座剧院。该剧院虽拥有3625个座位，这样庞大的歌剧院，却没有可供那些有钱商人观看歌剧时使用的固定包箱座位。无数的艺术家们想在这里一展歌喉，从此走上成功之路。当然，现在在这里登台的也大多是超级歌星，表演令人叫绝。

在大都会歌剧院成立之前，纽约只有乐府歌剧院一家，以供富人消遣，但包厢有限。有一天，一位范先生见他夫人分配不到包厢，便和罗斯福、易赛兰、葛雷特、亚斯多、毛根等同好合作，筹集了近800万美元美金，决定建造一座更好的剧院，这就是大都会歌剧院。

登台纽约大都会歌剧院是世界各国歌唱家的梦想。自20世纪80年代以来，已有数位享誉中外的华人歌唱家登台大都会歌剧院并担任重要角色。邓韵，著名旅美女中音歌唱家(现广州鳟鱼歌剧艺术团艺术总监)，是纽约大都会歌剧院的首位签约华人歌唱家。她先后在大都会歌剧院演出过《弄臣》、《蝴蝶夫人》、《卡门》等二十多部经典歌剧。其他先后在大剧院登台的华人歌唱家包括付海静(男中音)，田浩江(男低音)，黄英(女高音)，沈洋(男低音)等。华人歌唱家在大都会的登台不仅为大都会的演出阵容增添了特色，也为全世界的华人带来了骄傲。

纽约大都会歌剧院装备极为完善。观众大厅仍是传统的马蹄形，有座席3788个，如若加上站席，和特别照顾残疾、病人的轮椅，总共能容下4077人。建筑的规模，可以称得上是庞大无比。观众厅体积很大，平均有24米高，周围五层楼座，分三面环绕，其中两侧的是浅楼座，二层是包厢。舞台不但面积大，而且满布着各种精巧复杂的机械装置。

主台上装着7块升降台，有了这些升降台，上可搭出山陵台殿，下可表现湖海江河，舞台设计更加灵活方便。两边侧台上的车台，都可以分成小块单独运动，凡9米以下的布景，全能靠安迅速更换。后舞台上则有一个直径18米的转台，能开到主表演区上旋转。乐队所在的乐池，也分做前后两块，可以上下升降。

The Metropolitan Opera, now in its 129th season, is a vibrant home for the most creative and talented artists, including singers, conductors, composers, orchestra musicians, stage directors, designers, visual artists, choreographers, and dancers from around the world. Known as the venue for the world’s greatest voices, the Met has been under the musical direction of James Levine since 1976. Maestro Levine is credited with having created one of opera’s finest orchestras and choruses.

In the summer of 2006, Peter Gelb became the Met’s 16th General Manager. Under the leadership of Gelb and Levine, the Met has been elevating the company’s theatrical standards by significantly increasing the number of new productions, staged by the most imaginative directors working in theater and opera. The company is also securing increased commitments from the world’s greatest singers. The Met has launched a series of initiatives to broaden its audience internationally; efforts have ranged from transmitting operas live in high definition to movie theaters around the world to hosting free Open Dress Rehearsals for the general public. To revitalize the company’s repertory, the Met has pledged to present modern masterpieces alongside the classic repertory.

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. In the company’s early years, the management changed course several times, first performing everything in Italian (even Carmen and Lohengrin), then everything in German (even Aida and Faust), before finally settling into a policy of performing most works in their original language, with some notable exceptions.