1.
GV EXTERIOR
0.05

2.
GV PEOPLE ARRIVING
0.09

3.
SV POSTER
0.12

4.
CU DITTO
0.16

5.
TV PEOPLE ENTERING
0.23

6.
SV DITTO
0.29

7.
GV DINNER IN PROGRESS
0.35

8.
GV DITTO
0.40

9.
GV PAN ROUND INTERIOR
0.44

10.
GV CHORUS SINGING SOF
0.50



Initials HT/V/RM/K PC



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: AN AUDIENCE OF FOUR-THOUSAND ATTENDED A FAREWELL PERFORMANCE BY NEW YORK'S METROPOLITAN OPERA COMPANY ON SATURDAY NIGHT, IN THE BUILDING WHICH HAS BEEN ITS HOME FOR THE PAST EIGHTY-THREE YEARS.

FORMER "MET" ARTISTS AND OPERA LOVERS FROM ALL OVER THE UNITED STATES PACKED THE RED AND GOLD ROCOCO AUDITORIUM FOR A STAR-STUDDED, FIVE-HOUR GALA PROGRAMME TO BID FAREWELL TO THE OPERA HOUSE, WHICH IS TO BE DEMOLISHED TO MAKE ROOM FOR OFFICE BUILDINGS.

LATER THIS YEAR THE METROPOLITAN OPERA COMPANY WILL MOVE INTO ITS NEW GBP16 MILLION HOME AT THE LINCOLN CENTRE FOR PERFORMING ARTS, IN NEW YORK.

SYNOPSIS: TICKETS FOR THE LAST PERFORMANCE IN THE OLD "MET" FETCHED GBP70 EACH, AND ABOUT FIVE HUNDRED PEOPLE PAID GBP4 EXTRA TO ATTEND A BANQUET AT THE METROPOLITAN OPERA CLUB.