Metropolitan Opera Named Culture Spot for November

NYC & Company, New York City's marketing, tourism and partnership organization, today announced that The Metropolitan Opera is the Culture Spot pick for November, the City's monthly cultural program that encourages local and visitor exploration by spotlighting a different arts organization each month. Located at Lincoln Center in the Upper West Side of Manhattan, New York City's iconic opera company has been presenting world-class productions since 1883.

Currently in its 128th season, the company's 2011-2012 season features seven new productions, 19 revivals and Robert Lepage's new production of Richard Wagner's complete Ring cycle. In honor of being named NYC & Company Culture Spot for November, The Metropolitan Opera will offer spectators half off their second ticket to any performance of Philip Glass's Satyagraha, Giuseppe Verdi's Nabucco and George Frideric Handel's Rodelinda between November 1 and 30. The Culture Spot program, produced by the NYC & Company Foundation, promotes cultural tourism in all five boroughs by inviting visitors to discover cultural opportunities.

"Visitors from around the globe come to New York City to experience opera's most magnificent productions, renowned singers and conductors, and impressive orchestra and chorus," said Annie Bergen, Vice President of Arts and Culture at NYC & Company. "This month's special offer from The Metropolitan Opera invites patrons from all over to attend a world-class performance for their first, fifth or 10th time."

Composed by Glass and based on the life of Mohandas Gandhi, Satyagraha makes up the second part of Glass's "Portrait Trilogy" of operas that highlight men who impacted the world. The title, Satyagraha (which means "truth force"), refers to Gandhi's notion of nonviolent resistance to injustice; the opera is sung is Sanskrit and translated to the audience via supertitles.

Verdi's Nabucco follows the troubles of the Jews as they are assaulted, conquered and exiled from their homeland by the Babylonian King Nabucco (Nebuchadnezzar). Historical events play background to this political and romantic narrative.

Handel's Rodelinda features the world-renowned American soprano Renée Fleming in her return to the title role. The story follows the female protagonist, a seventh-century queen, as her husband attempts to reclaim the throne from a usurper.

Additional performances at The Metropolitan Opera throughout November include the new production of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's Don Giovanni by Tony Award-winning director Michael Grandage; Charles Gounod's classic retelling of the Faust legend in a new production by Tony Award winner Des McAnuff; part three of Richard Wagner's Ring cycle, Siegfried; and Franco Zeffirelli's powerful Met production of Giacomo Puccini's popular La Bohème. Ticket prices for each of these performance start at $17; to view the full list of show dates and times, visit metopera.org.

To take advantage of The Metropolitan Opera's monthlong discounted ticket offer to Satyagraha, Nabucco and Rodelinda, patrons can purchase tickets in person at the box office, online at metopera.org or over the phone (212-362-6000) beginning November 1, 2011, by using the promotion code SATYA01 for Satyagraha or NYC01 for Nabucco and Rodelinda. Coupons will also be on hand at the Official NYC Information Centers in Midtown Manhattan, Times Square and Harlem, as well as the Official NYC Information Kiosks at City Hall and Chinatown, and can be downloaded and printed from nycgo.com/culturespot.

In celebration of this month's Culture Spot pick, Annie Bergen will host a special podcast with Phelim McDermott, director of Satyagraha, and Julian Crouch, associate director and set designer, on the creative process behind the opera. Trivia questions about the interview will be asked over Twitter (@nycgo) for a chance to win complimentary tickets to three operas. To listen to the podcast and learn more about the Culture Spot program, visit nycgo.com/culturespot.

For the latest announcements on NYC & Company programs, follow twitter.com/nycgo_press. Visit nycgo.com to find out everything there is to see and do in New York City.