News

Metropolitan Opera Breaks Box Office Record for Opening Day Ticket Sales

Over $2.5 million sold for 2009-10 season in first day of single sales

August 17, 2009

New York, NY (August 17, 2009) – The Metropolitan Opera set a new record for opening day at the box office when single tickets for the 2009-10 season went on sale to the public yesterday. Total sales reached $2,506,000 as compared to $2,016,000 on the equivalent day last season ($2,085,000 in tickets were sold on the opening day in 2007, which was the past record.)

The company’s 34-week season opens on September 21 with a new production of Puccini’s Tosca starring Karita Mattila, conducted by James Levine, and directed by Luc Bondy in his Met debut. The 2009-10 season, the first fully planned by General Manager Peter Gelb and Levine, features eight new productions, the most since 1966-67, including four Met premieres. 

Despite the global economic downturn, the Met’s box office sales for the 2008-09 season came in on target at 88% of total capacity. The Met has seen marked box office increases since the 2006-07 season, following six years of steadily declining ticket sales.

Yesterday’s sales included purchases made at the box office, by telephone, and by internet at the company’s web site.