by Senior Reviewer Maytal Wichman
I’m a big fan of the opera and I love introducing it to my kids. Unfortunately, they can’t last through a full-length (three hour) performance. The Metropolitan Opera at Lincoln center, one of the most famous opera houses in the world recently held somewhat-short performances of The Barber of Seville that were tailored for children, but without skimping on the quality of the singers, the lavish costumes and the set design – and all at affordable prices!
I recently attended the Barber of Seville at the Metropolitan Opera with my kids and was amazed at the top-notch performance. The opera was the same as the original but abridged to suit children; it’s cut to two hours instead of three, which was perfect for my three kids (the youngest of whom, at age three, sat with his mouth gaping open as he watched the show). 
My kids were also able to understand a lot of what was going on because it was in English. The performers spoke often and it was very clear to hear what they were saying. The plot moved rather quickly, as opposed to full-length performances where the singers just stand and sing for what seems like hours. Still, there was a cohesive story and nothing major was cut out, so we still got the full experience of a world-class opera performance.
When you’re buying tickets for a family of five you know how quickly costs can add up. The Met has “family Circle” tickets that are as low as $25 per person. During the holiday season those prices are slashed in half for kids, making it even more affordable! This makes it available for families on a budget who still want to enrich their children’s lives with the arts.
Visit the Metropolitan Opera website to learn more.
Photos by Karen Almond
I was not compensated for this post. I received complimentary tickets.
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Senior Reviewer Maytal Wichman is the owner of Mama’s Bites and has also written for The Huffington Post. She has been living in New York City for fourteen years and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in English Literature as well as a Law Degree, but blogging is her true passion. Maytal is a stay-at-home mom to three kids (ages 9, 6 and 3) and loves finding great products that make her family’s life easier.
This sounds like a good intro even for first time adult audiences..and pocket friendly is always appreciated..thanks! The photos of the scenes are lovely.