Free Opera At Lincoln Center: What You Need To Know

UPPER WEST SIDE, NY — This Labor Day weekend ditch the beach and head to the opera. The Metropolitan Opera will host free outdoor screenings of opera productions each night this weekend in the Josie Robertson Plaza at Lincoln Center.

Interested in checking out the free opera? Here's what you need to know.

Which shows are playing?

The free outdoor screenings are part of the Metropolitan Opera's ninth Summer HD Festival. This weekend the operas "Eugene Onegin," "Nabucco" and "La Traviata" will be projected onto a big screen on Sept. 2, 3 and 4th.

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What time do screenings begin?

Each opera is scheduled to begin at 8 p.m., according to the Metropolitan Opera. But as with all outdoor screening events the actual start time depends on the weather. The sun must set enough so that it's dark enough to see the projection.

The sun is supposed to set by 7:30 p.m. on Sept. 2, 3 and 4, according to a Weather.com five-day forecast.

Will there be seating?

During each screening 3,000 chairs will be set up on the Lincoln Center Plaza facing a large screen suspended on the arts center. Should all the seats be occupied there's more than enough standing room in the plaza if you don't mind standing on your feet for a few hours to take in some opera.

Free opera is sure to be popular, so it's best to show up before 8 p.m. if you want to snag a seat.

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