Hello, I'm Carl Raymond, the host of the Gilded Gentleman History podcast, and this is a very special moment in the Guilded Age social calendar.

It's the opening of opera season.

And as most of you know, it's also the moment for the premiere of Season 2 of HBO's series created by Julian Fellows, The Guilded Age.

To celebrate both and to give some insight into just what was going on at the Opera in the

Gilded Age, I am excited to share with you an encore presentation of one of the Gilded

gentlemen's most popular shows, the opening of the Metropolitan Opera 1883.

So get out your finest clothes, order up the carriage, and I'll see you at the opera.

This week on the Gilded Gentleman, I'm taking you to the Opera.

With our top hats, opera cloaks, and glasses, we'll be joining the Gilded Gentlemen, I'm taking you to the opera. With our top hats, opera cloaks, and glasses, we'll be joining the Gilded Age Elite

for one of the most exciting evenings filled with drama on and off stage.

The conductor has just appeared on the podium, so do join me.

Hello, I'm Carl Raymond, and welcome to the Gilded Gentleman History Podcast, a show in which we take a close look at America's Gilded Age, France's Grand, Belipoc, and the world of late Victorian, Ann Edwardian, England.

I've just poured a nice cup of Earl Grey tea, one of my favorites in the afternoon,

and I'm having it in one of my favorite cups, a real 19th century blue and white Canton cup.

I hope you've poured a nice cup of tea, too, or maybe something stronger. So sit back and let me

share with you some of the astonishing moments and

inside story of how the Metropolitan Opera and its historic opening night came to be.

On September 27, 2021, today's current Metropolitan Opera had its opening night of the 2021-22 season.

And of course, what an incredible chance for celebration after this long period of darkened theaters

and not being able to hear glorious music live for what has seemed so long.

This opening night, this year,

was filled perhaps with even more anticipation. The opera performed was itself a New York premiere

...