Monday, September 22, 2008, the new season opens with an exciting gala featuring Metropolitan Opera icon Renée Fleming in fully staged excerpts from Verdi’s La Traviata, Massenet’s Manon, and Strauss’s Capriccio.

Although the New York City event is sold out, you can still get tickets for your local movie theater’s simulcast. Unlike the rest of the HD Live season, the gala will be broadcast to North and South America only.

• Buy your HD Live tickets now!
• Watch the HD Live trailer for the 2008-2009 season

If you’re short on cash, there are a few free options!

• In Times Square, there will be free seating for 2,000 people at 5pm. Before the seating opens, an audience queue will be located on Broadway, between 42nd and 43rd Streets. Get there early!
• Fordham University’s North Meadow, one block south of Lincoln Center, will host the plazacast. This event is free, but tickets are required. You can pick up a maximum of 2 tickets/person this Sunday at noon, at the Met’s box office.
• On the web, you can listen free on Sirius Radio Channel 78, or streaming live from the Met’s website.