The Met Subsidize 13,600 Seats for Weekend Performances for the 2010-11 Season

Extending her weekday Rush Ticket program, Metropolitan Opera Managing Director Agnes Varis will subsidize 13,600 seats for weekend performances for the 2010-11 season. The seats in the Orchestra and Grand Tier, ranging in price from $322 to $137, will be available for $25 through a weekly drawing. Entries for the weekly drawings to purchase the $25 seats will be available only at the Met's web site, www.metopera.org.

Dr. Varis also sponsors the Met's popular weekday Agnes Varis and Karl Leichtman Rush Ticket program, which subsidizes 200 seats for every weekday performance, excluding galas.

Beginning September 27, every Monday through the end of the Met season in May, opera-goers can sign up for the "$25 Weekend Tickets" drawing at the Met's web site. The drawing from all the entrants will be held on Tuesday morning and winners' names posted on the web site by 12 noon. Winners may then call Met Ticket Service at 212-362-6000, or go to the Met Box Office, to pick up their $25 tickets, which must be paid for by Wednesday evening at 5:00 p.m. The tickets will be for Friday evening, Saturday matinee, and Saturday evening performances only, and will vary in number each week depending on the availability of tickets for that weekend's performances. An estimated 93 performances will be included in the "$25 Weekend Tickets" program, including every Friday, Saturday matinee, and Saturday evening performance during the season except for the new production premieres of La Traviata on December 31 and of Die Walküre on April 22.

The Met's two discount ticket programs are summarized below.

Summary of process to enter the "Agnes Varis and Karl Leichtman Weekend Ticket Drawing,"("$25 Weekend Tickets") for Friday and Saturday performances only, subject to availability.

• Monday: entry forms can be filled out and submitted only on the Met's web site, www.metopera.org, beginning at 10:00 a.m. through 11:59 p.m. (ET)
• Tuesday: the drawing is held and names posted on the Met's web site at 12 noon. Winners will receive an e-mail notification.
• Wednesday: tickets must be paid for either by phone (212-362-6000) or at Met box office by 5:00 p.m on Wednesday.
• Limit of two tickets per entry.

Summary of process to obtain Agnes Varis and Karl Leichtman Rush Tickets, for Monday through Thursday performances only 200 seats available at each performance.

• Day of performance: 150 tickets available at the Met Box Office, beginning two hours before curtain time.
• Day of performance: 50 senior citizen tickets available by phone beginning at noon. Proof of age required when picking up tickets at the Box Office.
• Limit of two tickets per customer.

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