When it comes to high culture on the cheap, could you do any better than a free performance at the Met Opera?
Next week, the Metropolitan Opera will open its doors to the public for its final dress rehearsal of Hector Berlioz’s “La Damnation de Faust.” You can see it for free on November 4, or pay up to $375 to see its official premiere at the Met on Nov. 7. (To be fair, there are seats for as little as $15 at other performances scheduled through Dec. 4.)
The free dress rehearsal is presented as the Met's Open House, which will also include a panel discussion including Robert Lepage who created the unique cinematic-style staging of the Faustian revival.
The trick to getting access to the Open House is that you need to be line up this Sunday at the Met Opera box office, where pairs of tickets will be given away from noon. Also note that the Open House takes place on a Tuesday at 11 a.m.
Past Open House events at the Met have included free backstage tours, free lunch and lobby displays on the costumes and chances to talk to set designers about how they created the scenery.
