Page 14 - The Indian EYE 100226

North The Indian Eye

AMERICANNewsline

14 OCTOBER 02, 2026

Mayor Mamdani Launches

“Opera for All,” Bringing 70,000 Free

Metropolitan Opera Tickets to New Yorkers

10,000 Tickets Released Each Month by Lottery · Seats Across Every Section of the House · Initiative
Designed for New Yorkers Who Have Never Attended the Met

OUR BUREAU
NEW YORK, NY
ayor Zohran Kwame Mam-
dani, Deputy Mayor for
MEconomic Justice Julie Su
and New York City Department of
Cultural Affairs (DCLA) Commis-
sioner Diya Vij have announced “Op-
era for All,” a long-term partnership
between the City and the Metropol-
itan Opera that will provide 70,000
free tickets this season to New York-
ers who have never attended a perfor-
mance at the Met.
Beginning this month, the Met
will release 10,000 tickets each month
throughout the 2026-27 season, about
10% of all tickets for the season. New
Yorkers can enter the monthly lottery in the city.” tributing tickets directly to New York- City will promote the lottery through
at on.nyc.gov/opera or through the “Economic justice means access ers will also be made available in the DSS, NYCHA, New York City Public
Met’s app. This season’s performanc- to the things that make a city worth months ahead. Schools, Brooklyn Public Library, The
es include Macbeth, Lincoln in the living in,” said Deputy Mayor for The City is helping promote and New York Public Library, Queens
Bardo and La Bohème. Economic Justice Julie Su. “Too distribute tickets through the De- Public Library, CUNY, and DFTA,
Mayor Mamdani announced many New Yorkers have walked past partment of Social Services, NYCHA, and through the Situation Project.
the partnership in a video filmed on Lincoln Center their whole lives and New York City Public Schools, the “‘Opera for All’ promises a new
the Met’s stage with the cast of La never gone inside. This season, tens of New York Public Library, The City avenue of access for CUNY students
Bohème. “Opera is one of the great- thousands of them will.” University of New York (CUNY), the to broaden their perspectives through
est art forms we have, and there is “The Met Opera’s iconic stage Department for the Aging and Situa- engagement with our city’s rich arts
no better place to experience it than is one that too many New Yorkers tion Project. institutions,” said CUNY Chancellor
the Metropolitan Opera House,” said have yet to experience for themselves. The announcement builds on the Félix V. Matos Rodríguez. “We’re
Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani. Thanks to this partnership, that’s Mamdani administration’s commit- grateful to Mayor Mamdani and the
“But art should not be reserved for about to change,” said Cultural Af- ment to making New York’s arts and Metropolitan Opera for making these
those who can afford it. Every New fairs Commissioner Diya Vij. “Opera culture accessible to all New Yorkers. performances more accessible to
Yorker should have the opportunity has a long history of welcoming work- Earlier this summer, in partnership CUNY students and all New Yorkers.
to sit in these seats, hear these voices ing people of all ages. With ‘Opera for with the Theater Development Fund, I urge those who haven’t yet experi-
and experience this stage, no matter All,’ we’re getting back to these roots Mayor Mamdani provided thousands enced the joy of attending a production
what’s in their bank account. From the and letting all New Yorkers know that of free and low-cost Broadway and at the Met to take advantage of this
rise of opera buffa in the 18th century the incredible work on this stage is for off-Broadway tickets to high school one-of-a-kind opportunity to attend.”
to Mayor Fiorello La Guardia’s “peo- them, too.” students, along with free member- “Opening doors to NYC students,
ple’s opera” in the 1940s, this art form The Met has committed to con- ships to more than 20 cultural institu- the next generation of creatives, to
was meant to be seen by everyone.” tinuing “Opera for All” in future tions across the City. the amazing performances featured
“Throughout its storied history, seasons. Tickets will be available in “The Met has committed to at the Metropolitan Opera is an in-
the Met has culturally enriched New every section of the house, excluding continuing ‘Opera for All’ in future credible step forward in welcoming
York,” said Peter Gelb, the Met’s standing room. Any New Yorker who seasons. Tickets cover seats in every them into the city’s artistic fold in their
General Manager. “With this new has not purchased a Met Opera tick- section of the house. They do not in- own backyards. We couldn’t be more
initiative, we hope to further demon- et since 2019 is eligible to enter the clude standing room. The City is help- excited for them,” said Damian Ba-
strate that the Met is a vital part of life lottery. Additional pathways to dis- ing distribute tickets this season. The zadona, Founder of Situation Project.

www.TheIndianEYE.com