Springfield Museums Travel/Saturday, April 6, 2019 New York City Metropolitan Opera: Tosca

Please note there will be two pickup and drop off sites: • From the Springfield Museums’ State Street parking lot and • From the former Macy’s Department Store commuter parking lot, Enfield, CT. Please let us know in which lot you will be. 7:45 am – Depart from the Springfield Museums’ State Street parking lot located directly across the street from the Springfield Main Library building. Please park in the lot and meet the bus at the curbside. We ask participants to arrive at 7:30 am. 8:15 am – Depart from the Commuter Lot, former Macy’s Dept. Store, Enfield, CT. Please park near the small kiosk to the right of the store front. We ask participants to arrive at 8 am. En route, enjoy an informative lecture on the music and artistry of this Tosca production with Michael Cascia, opera aficionado and instructor. We will make one rest stop on the way. A boxed lunch is included and will be handed out at the rest stop along with bottled water. The lunch menu will be announced soon. 12 noon – Estimated arrival at the Metropolitan Opera at Lincoln Center for a 1 pm performance of Tosca with reserved orchestra section seating. Giacomo Puccini’s Tosca is a melodramatic piece set in Rome in June 1800, with the Kingdom of Naples's control of Rome threatened by Napoleon's invasion of Italy. It contains some of Puccini's best-known lyrical arias. Met rising star Jennifer Rowley has the title role of the volatile diva at the heart of this operatic thriller. Joseph Calleja brings his stylish tenor to the role of Cavaradossi, Wolfgang Koch is the nefarious police chief Scarpia, and Carlo Rizzi conducts Sir David McVicar’s resplendent production. Before the performance or during the 30 minute intermission, visit the Grand Tier level to see Marc Chagall’s famous murals hanging on either side of the house, then take in the view of Lincoln Center Plaza from the balcony. The Met Opera gift shop is located in the north lobby. The south lobby features Met-inspired work by top contemporary artists. The performance is scheduled to end by 4 pm, approximately. Following the performance, meet the bus at the designated location and depart for home with an estimated return by 8:30-9 pm. We will make one rest/meal stop at the Danbury Fair Mall, Danbury, CT. Dine on your own from a variety of options in their food court. What to bring: Snacks/beverage for the bus. Dress in layers for variable temperatures on the bus and concert hall. Items may be left on the bus during the opera performance. Bottled water is provided for the ride home.