Bartlett Sher's traditionally-styled but actually ~new~ production of Le Comte Ory opened at the Met last night. Anthony Tommasini of the New York Times has pronounced it 'A Lively, Stylish Met Debut'. It's certainly spectacularly cast, with Juan Diego Florez, Diana Damrau, Joyce DiDonato, Stéphane Degout and Michele Pertusi all making an appearance.
The Gala audience was younger and starrier than usual (a hallmark of the Gelb reign), with those well-known operaphiles the Olsen twins, Claudia Schiffer and Claire Danes all turning up to be papped. Best dressed by general agreement was Rebecca Hall in red (below).
But guess who turned up in her own clothes and without the aid of a hairdresser? Upping the Met's cool factor, and not for the first time, was Patti Smith and...
.....even more remarkably, Lou Reed. Guess you can't tell a bel canto fan by appearances.
