The Met Opera Summer Recital Series

A free summer tradition since 2009, the series brings Met stars to Central Park every summer.

The Metropolitan Opera's free Summer Recital Series brings rising Met stars to Rumsey Playfield at Central Park SummerStage for an evening of arias and duets under the open sky.

No tickets or reservations needed.

For this year's program details: visit our Metropolitan Opera Summer Recital Series event page.

An Evening at Rumsey Playfield

If you've never attended an opera performance before, this is one of the easiest introductions the city offers. There's no dress code, no ticket to buy, and no expectation that you know the music in advance.

Rumsey Playfield, which sits near the 69th Street and 5th Avenue entrance to Central Park, is an open-air amphitheater with a covered stage. The combination of the surrounding tree canopy, the open sky, and the atmosphere of the park at that hour makes it one of the more unusual settings for classical music in the city.

The format for the Met Opera series is informal. People arrive early to secure a spot before the performance begins. The performers are accompanied by a pianist from the Met's music staff, and the repertoire is a mix of solo arias and duets. Each year's program and performer details are posted on the City Parks Foundation event page in advance of the concert.

Where Future Opera Stars Have Appeared

The series has consistently featured performers early in careers that went on to considerable recognition.

  • Baritone Will Liverman performed at Central Park in 2021 and returned in 2023. He has since won a Grammy Award, received the Met's Beverly Sills Artist Award, made history as the first Black Papageno at the Met, and starred in the title role of X: The Life and Times of Malcolm X.
  • Soprano Janai Brugger performed at Central Park in 2015 and returned for the 2025 series. Already a winner of the 2012 Operalia competition and the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions when she first appeared here, she has since received the Marian Anderson Award, won a 2026 Grammy Award for Best Opera Recording, and has appeared with the Philadelphia Orchestra, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and LA Opera.
  • Soprano Leah Hawkins performed at Central Park in 2021 and returned in 2024. She has since received the Met's 2024 Beverly Sills Artist Award, the Marian Anderson Award, and a Richard Tucker Career Grant, and is currently performing at the Met, LA Philharmonic, and major opera houses including La Monnaie in Brussels.

About the Series

The Metropolitan Opera launched the Summer Recital Series in 2009 in partnership with City Parks Foundation, with the goal of bringing free concerts to parks across all five boroughs and introducing new audiences to opera in some of the city's most celebrated outdoor settings.

The Central Park concert is one of six free performances the Met presents across all five boroughs each summer. Each set of borough shows features a different cast of performers. The full schedule is available at metopera.org.

SummerStage: What to Know Before You Go

Admission and Seating

Admission is free and no tickets or reservations are required. Entry is first-come, first-served. Doors open at 7:00 PM, one hour before the performance begins. Picnic blankets and beach towels are permitted inside the venue. If the venue fills up, you may be asked to pick up your blanket so more guests can fit. Outside folding chairs are not allowed. Bleacher availability varies by show. Check the SummerStage FAQ for current details before the event.

A SummerStage Membership gives members priority entry and access to dedicated bleacher seating at eligible performances, along with lounge access and other benefits throughout the season.

What to Bring

Permitted items:

  • Food
  • Factory-sealed plastic bottles and non-glass reusable water bottles
  • Strollers
  • Picnic blankets and beach towels
  • Hats, sunglasses, and your phone

What to Leave at Home

The following are not permitted at SummerStage in Central Park:

  • Bags larger than 16" x 16" x 8"
  • Glass bottles or cans
  • Coolers
  • Alcoholic beverages (beer and wine are available for purchase inside the venue for guests 21+)
  • Folding chairs
  • Bikes, scooters, rollerblades, or skateboards
  • Beach umbrellas or balloons
  • Laser pointers or noisemakers (air horns, bull horns, whistles)
  • Selfie sticks
  • Professional camera, video, or audio recording equipment
  • Drones
  • Controlled substances or weapons
  • Pets (service animals are welcome)

All bags are subject to search at entry.

Food and Drink

Food and non-alcoholic drinks are permitted inside the venue. Beer and wine are available for purchase from the on-site concession. Guests must be 21 or older with a valid government-issued ID to purchase alcohol. A limit of two drinks per ID applies at one time. Cash and credit cards are accepted.

Weather

All SummerStage events are rain or shine. The performance will only be cancelled if conditions become dangerous, such as lightning, high winds, or flooding. Cancellation announcements are posted on the SummerStage Facebook, Instagram, and X accounts and at cityparksfoundation.org. Cancelled shows are not rescheduled.

Accessibility

Accessible entrances, exits, and seating are available at every SummerStage event in accordance with the ADA. At Rumsey Playfield, the accessible seating area is on the East side of the venue in front of the Stage Left deck. Each patron in the accessible section may bring one companion. Folding chairs with backs are provided in the accessible area.

To request an assisted listening device or accessible seating in advance, submit the Accessibility and Accommodations Request Form at least 24 hours before the event. ASL interpreter requests require at least two weeks' notice. For additional accessibility questions, contact summerstage@cityparksfoundation.org.

Note: performances may include loud noise, bright or flashing lights, and strobes.

Smoking

Smoking and vaping are prohibited in all New York City parks.