I was lucky to get a box seat ticket to the Zeffirelli production of Tourandot by Puccini. I think this is the first time I heard the set itself actually get a round of applause before the any singing. The stage of Acts 2 and 3 were visually impactful and the scale of the show is truly large. Another time the production really captivated the audience like that was when I saw Mozart’s Magic Flute by Jun Kaneko in San Francisco. As per custom there is no picture taking, but there are plenty of images and videos online so take a look if you are curious.

Box seats that I got had a partial view, with the left edges out of view. Its still bright out Lincoln Center. This is looking out from the Opera.

This the facing the opera, if you look closely you can see two large Chagall paintings on the extreme left and right windows of the building. 

I had time to kill so I walked by the center fountain…

Dressed for the opera bowtie and all. 

Looking toward Julliard. 

If you make reservations for a pre show dinner you can roam the empty halls. I could not so I can only view from here. 

There is a bar on every floor for guests to enjoy a drink during intermission. 

I head back outside. 

Between the buildings is a large reflecting pool. 

A close up of the Chagall, this one by the restaurant. 

This red one is buy the bar. 

It begins to get dark. 

Everything lights up, and the crowd gets larger. 

Finally we are let in, I am in the Grand Tier floor box, but I stopped by every floor to see what the set up was like. You can see patrons dinning before the show. 

This is the bar on the top floor, the ceiling is gold… a theme throughout the building. 

Again gold… 

Drinking before the show under the red Chagall… 

Drinks on the Balcony overlooking the plaza. 

A few of the boxes on the way to my seat. 

A few of the audience… the boxes on the right above the orchestra floor has suites, with a separate room with the box seats.  

The velvet curtain separates the general seats from the boxes.  

Walking down the hall to the box. The box is located right next to the Director’s private box at the end of the hall.  

The box has seats that can be moved around and are not fixed to the floor like other theater seats. It was good as everyone can set and adjust to their comfort. 

Look at all that gold… 

A box selfie. 

This was a new vantage point for me. Also you can see that my seats position has limited view of the rear left view of the stage. But the luxury of space and unique can close vantage point was worth it. I think this was one of the first times I actually saw the performers face… 

Pavarotti, made this the Nessun Dorma famous and is all over youtube. Turandot and this production was worth the time. The intermission was so long some people also ate at the restaurant.  Even I went back to the bar for a snack – one large and very expensive cookie. 

The subtitles are seen in the long screen on each seat. The screens in the box swing and move for the comfort of the patron. 

One nice feature is that each floor has a water bar… Operas are long and sometimes a water comes in handy. I also drove to the opera as it was estimated to be done around midnight. I parked at Lincoln Center, but comes with Manhattan parking rates so beware. 

Not sure I will be a opera regular, but if there is a special one I would do the box again.