Support of the Met

The resplendent Scalamandre silk Gold Curtain that graces the Auditorium was a gift from the Club membership to the Metropolitan Opera Association, celebrating the MOA’s twenty-fifth anniversary at Lincoln Center. The Club membership contributed more than $500,000, permitting an endowment to be established as an ongoing replacement fund, the balance of which was applied to the new Gold Curtain installed in 2005. Longtime members of the Club will recall the Club's gift of the 1979 Gold Curtain and are proud of continuing tradition.

When the Vaudeville Club leased the Omnibus Box in the Metropolitan Opera House for the 1893-1894 Season, it was, in effect, guaranteeing the opera company substantial ticket sales for the season. For over a century the Club has made similar commitments. In recent years ticket sales have generated approximately $500,000 dollars annually. Member participation in new production benefits and Opening Night make further contributions to the Metropolitan Opera Association. The Club provides a ticket service for all Club members for all performances offered in the Opera House.

In 1976 the Club was approached for a special contribution for a new production. The Club accepted the challenge and raised half the production costs of a new production of I Puritani. The following year, responding to a similar request, the Club contributed half the production costs of Lulu. Since then, the Club has made significant contributions to Faust, the Ring Cycle, Un Ballo in Maschera, Les Contes d’Hoffmann, I Lombardi and others.

Many Club members who were not Metropolitan Opera Patrons when they joined, were introduced to the needs of the Association through the Club. A substantial number of Club members figure in all categories of Association support. The Club fosters support of the Association by maintaining a unique place that contributes to its members' enjoyment of opera.