Metropolitan Opera Chandelier. On the opening night audience and journalists were startlingly impressed by starburst chandeliers from vienna a gift to the united states of america by the republic of austria out of gratitude for the erp program after world war ii. A drop of paint followed the laws of gravity surface tension and impact instead of the intentions of the artist.
When the new york metropolitan opera opened on september 13th 1966 the first applause went to the twelve chandeliers that rose towards the ceiling with the first curtain. Nickel finish with black accents optional. When the metropolitan opera house image 2 was constructed along with the rest of lincoln center in the early 1960s the austrian government donated 350 chandeliers sconces and other light fixtures to the opera house a shining and glittering symbol according to the austrian foreign minister at the time of the friendship between austria and the united states.
In the met opera s case 23 chandeliers designed by hans harald rath were donated to the united states by the austrian government in 1966 as a thanks for implementing the marshall plan the united states more than 12 billion pledge to help stabilize the economy in western europe after world war ii.
Chandelier series 6725 metropolitan opera foyer 6725 l 16 in standard finish hans harald rath 1963 brass hand cut crystal swarovski crystal. An accident was the genesis of the chandeliers of the metropolitan opera house. La scala in milan palais garnier in paris the metropolitan opera in new york the bolshoi theater in moscow as well as the czech republic s. 2016 marks the 50th anniversary of the metropolitan chandelier creation designed by hans harald rath for the metropolitan opera in new york.