The Metropolitan Opera is home to the world’s most esteemed musicians, designers and creatives so when I was invited by Conde Nast to the performance of La Fille du Régiment the answer was obviously yes! A night at the opera in New York means a whirlwind evening of glamour and sophistication. When it comes to the performing arts, there is no better place in the city to be than the beautiful Lincoln Center.
As a guest of Conde Nast, I was in for an unforgettable night. Before arriving I poured over the @LastNightAtTheMet Instagram for outfit inspiration. Opera attendees go all out in the most decadent ensembles and it was so much fun seeing such amazing fashion sense. I opted for simplicity: all black with vintage accessories from Paris!
Upon arriving at the Met Opera all Conde Nast guests were swept backstage for an exclusive tour of the set, costume department and workshop where everything is designed. Everything at the Met Opera is made in house from concept to execution. In the audience, it is easy to forget all of the nervous energy that brims backstage before a show so the opportunity to go behind the curtain was so exciting! Seeing sets and costumes up close was amazing…they were just as detailed and artistic as you could imagine.
My favourite part of the tour was definitely the time spent in the costume department. The wardrobe for each performer is intricate and detailed. All design ideas are logged in binders called costume bibles. Fabric and thread in every colour of the rainbow fill the room – this is definitely a place where imagination runs wild!
After the tour ended we were invited to join the Met Opera’s Fridays Under 40 party. During the 2018–19 season, all Friday performances at the Met Opera are available to audiences under 40 at special rates. Select Fridays Under 40 performances are also be accompanied by a pre-performance party, featuring complimentary refreshments, photographers and artists which make the night feel extra special!
When the the clock struck 8:00 pm it was time for everyone to head to their seats and enjoy the show! Donizetti’s La Fille du Régiment (running February 7 to March 2) is a charming comedic love story staring South African soprano Pretty Yende and Mexican tenor Javier Camarena. The two act opera follows the story of a Marie, a canteen girl of the local regiment, and her lover. The musical score is a combination of cheery military tunes, crisp comic numbers and elegant arias. The most astonishing thing I learnt that night was that opera singers do not use microphones – everything you’re hearing is their voice amplified through the acoustics of the space – WOW! The evening was filled with standing ovation after standing ovation thanks to the star studded cast and beautiful music.
I could not have imagined a more magical evening! Thank you again to Conde Nast and the Metropolitan Opera for this very special night. I am already counting down the days until my next night at the opera in New York City! Be a part of the magic by booking tickets to an upcoming performance at the Met Opera here.
Photography: Noam Ekhaus
