The Metropolitan Opera Launches Online Store, www.metoperashop.org

The Metropolitan Opera Launches Online Store, www.metoperashop.org

Opera Lovers Can Shop for Music, Exclusive Products and More at Their Convenience New Merchandise Premieres Online and In Store This Holiday Season

NEW YORK, Dec. 3 /PRNewswire/ -- The Metropolitan Opera has launched a new online store at www.metoperashop.org, following the opening last fall of a newly-designed store in the lobby of the Opera House. The new Met Opera Shop online offers opera lovers worldwide a selection of music, apparel, jewelry, and other exclusive products, including pieces inspired by the Met's history, architecture, and productions. All purchases made at www.metoperashop.org support the Metropolitan Opera.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20091203/NY20616 )

"The Met Opera Shop, both in the lobby and online, are an extension of the excitement of what is presented onstage," says Tam Terry, the Met's chief merchandising officer. "Now, with the addition of our online store, we're able to reach our fans beyond the house, many of whom are seeing the Met via the successful Live in HD series."

The online store launches with more than 800 items, including over 500 music recordings with a special emphasis on the current season's shows and performers. Performances recorded at the Met, including DVDs of the company's Live in HD transmissions, are available, including the newly released Lucia di Lammermoor starring Anna Netrebko. Also available this holiday season is Metropolitan Opera Brass, a CD of favorite arias and interludes by members of the brass section of the Met Orchestra.

The online store offers a select assortment of the products available at the store in the lobby of the Opera House, including music, apparel, fashion accessories, gifts, stationery and home decor. Prices span a wide range, with great items available for all budgets, from a $5 baton pen to a $1,650 handbag by Clara Kasavina. Most products are inspired by the productions in the 2009-10 season or the architectural details of the house.

Among the other unique merchandise to be found at the Met Opera Shop are:

-- A clever collection of products playing off the word Met, including a
Metric ruler, a Metronome t-shirt with a line drawing of a conductor
and a Metamorphosis make-up bag
-- A sophisticated rollerball pen, key ring and business card holder,
embellished with the geometric pattern of the Met curtain
-- A hand-blown glass collection created for the Met by John Pomp. The
shapes are inspired by the Met's fluid interior architecture, and each
piece is fused with 24K gold
-- A jewelry collection designed by Herve Van der Straeten that evokes
architectural details of the Metropolitan Opera House
-- A collection of hand-crafted pewter items, including picture frames,
flasks, and vases, made in Sheffield, England. Each bears the
geometric pattern from the Met's proscenium and gold curtain
-- Metropolitan Opera inspired items, including a 2010 Met Opera
engagement calendar filled with images curated from the Met's archive,
a three-dimensional puzzle of the landmark Met building, and a
gold-and-white stationery collection, handmade on a letterpress from
the 1800s.

Store hours at the Metropolitan Opera House:
Monday - Saturday: 10:00 am - 10:00 pm
Sunday: 12:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Phone: (212) 580-4090

Contact:
Rubenstein Communications
Peter Foley, 212-843-8308, pfoley@rubenstein.com

Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20091203/NY20616
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
Source: The Metropolitan Opera

CONTACT: Rubenstein Communications, Peter Foley, +1-212-843-8308,
pfoley@rubenstein.com

Web Site: http://www.metoperashop.org/

-------
Profile: intent