Opera: Last Days of the Old Lady

Leontyne Price wants a chunk of the stage floor. Richard Tucker has his bid in for a slab of the proscenium arch inscribed VERDI. Rise Stevens has al ready filched the brass numeral 11 from the door of her old dressing room. Regine Crespin would like the toilet seat from No. 10; she plans to install it in her own bathroom.

Ever since Manhattan's Metropolitan Opera announced that it would abandon its historic old house for new quarters in Lincoln Center, requests for souvenirs have been pouring in by the thousands from opera lovers as well as opera stars around the...

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!