TONIGHT! The Metropolitan Opera Summer Recital at Socrates Sculpture Park

Every year Astorians are treated to a night at the opera – and they don’t even have to go to Lincoln Center! Tonight at 7 p.m. is the Metropolitan Opera’s Summer Recital at Socrates Sculpture Park at 32-01 Vernon Blvd.

The Met has been doing this popular summer concert series in NYC Parks in all five boroughs for nine summers, and includes an evening of arias and duets from a variety of operas. This year’s performances kicked off last Monday, June 10 at SummerStage in Central Park, produced with SummerStage NYC and the NYC Dept of Parks & Recreation. The first two recitals feature audience favorites baritone Nathan Gunn, tenor Ben Bliss, and soprano Ying Fang, accompanied on piano by Dan Saunders.

The four subsequent recitals (including tonight’s) showcase three exciting young artists—soprano Leah Hawkins, tenor Mario Bahg, and baritone Joseph Lim—with Dimitri Dover on piano.

Over the past weeks they’ve had concerts in Brooklyn Bridge Park, Jackie Robinson Park in Harlem, Williamsbridge Oval in the Bronx, and tonight they are coming to Queens. On Wednesday they will end the series at Clove Lakes Park on Staten Island.

The concerts are completely free, and no RSVP is required. Seating is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis. Picnic blankets are encouraged! Food will be available by Château le Woof – Pet Market & Café.

Socrates Sculpture Park, 32-01 Vernon Boulevard, Long Island City, Queens, NY 11106