Met Music Director James Levine conducted Luc Bondy's new production of Puccini's Tosca to kick off the company's 2009–10 season on Monday, September 21. Karita Mattila starred in the title role opposite Marcelo Álvarez as Cavaradossi, with George Gagnidze as Scarpia.

Continuing the new tradition of broadcasting Opening Night for free to open-air audiences, the Met beamed the gala—including live pre-performance and intermission interviews, hosted by soprano Patricia Racette—to giant screens in Times Square and on Lincoln Center Plaza, drawing several thousand spectators. Personalities from stage and screen turned out for the performance to walk the red carpet.