For the second time in its half-century, Manhattan's Metropolitan Opera last week abandoned formality and opened a series of spring operas. Last year the spring season was called, half-apologetically, "experimental.'' This year its future seemed firmer and it was listed simply as "popular-priced." Three dollars again bought seats that in the winter sell for $7. Pianist Lee Pattison, recently appointed manager of the spring company, looked forward to the day when the Metropolitan would give performances all year round.
Though the Metropolitan's headline singers are gone for the summer, last week's young contingent...