By Martin Bernheimer [Financial Times, 4 April 2007]

It wasn’t just another night at the opera. The mighty Met was commemorating the 40th anniversary of its move from grubby 39th Street to glamorous Lincoln Center. The agenda, fully staged, involved Act I of La bohème, the St Sulpice scene from Manon and Act II of L’elisir d’amore. The top ticket cost $5,000 – repeat, $5,000 – for a seat plus post- performance dinner. The glitterati came out in noisy force, and some of them seemed interested in the music.