The Metropolitan Opera, Lincoln Center, NYC

Lincoln Center's vast, multi-year makeover, is finally complete, and my husband and I were excited to see our first opera of this new season, Giacomo Puccini's "Tosca." This is one of our favorite operas because it contains one of the most beautiful and dramatic arias of all: "E Luceuan le stelle" In the production we saw Karita Mattila sing the title role, Marcelo Álvarez was Cavaradossi, George Gagnidze was Scarpia, and the conductor was Joseph Colaneri. All were superb!
This was an entirely new production of Tosca and it received some controversy on opening night when the director Luc Bondy and set designer Richard Perduzzi were booed by the audience who disapproved of the new stark set and emphasis on the erotic qualities of the opera's libretto. I also felt this new production was a rather hard and edgy, and to me lacked the romanticism and intrigue of the familiar old Franco Zefferelli production, which we had seen many times over the years. Regardless of the staging, however, Pucinni's music was beautiful and soaring, and for a few hours we were entertained in a most magical way.

All photos will enlarge when clicked on

In the mosaic above you can see some scenes inside The Metropolitan Opera house at Lincoln Center. I took some photos of the seats before most of the audience arrived and the final bows of the performers at the curtain call at the end. There are always costumes from past productions on display in the auditorium hall, and the two seen in this mosaic are prior Tosca gowns.

The Revson fountain that stands at the center of the Josie Robertson Plaza has been replaced by a new version designed by the architectural firm Diller Scofidio + Renfro in association with Beyer Blinder Belle Architects and Planners. The black granite rimmed fountain contains 353 computerized nozzles that spray the water in rhythmic patterns using recycled water, and is lit by 272 lights. The fountain is computerised by the company WET, who are the same people behind the waterworks displays at the Las Vegas Bellagio Hotel.

I have to admit that although I loved the iconic old fountain that used to be in the plaza, the water display of the new fountain was mesmerizing to watch.

The water rises as high as 40 feet!

It dips higher and lower ...

...and begins to dance.....

....from side to side.

If you'd like to watch the whole exciting cycle of the water dance that the fountain makes you can watch this Youtube video:



I am adding this post to Mary's of The Little Red House blog's Mosaic Monday event. Please visit Mary today to see links to other wonderful mosaic creations!