On Monday night, while the rest of the country was glued to their televisions watching the most anticipated and controversial presidential debate in modern history, guests at the Metropolitan Opera’s Opening Night Gala opted for a different kind of performance: the premiere of the Met Opera’s new production of Richard Wagner’s Tristan und Isolde. However, the debate was never far from people’s minds. At the under-the-sea-themed gala dinner, Met Opera general manager, Peter Gelb, noted that the evening’s performance was, “more riveting and moving than any debate and certainly more beneficial for mankind,” while chairman of the board Ann Ziff proudly explained that the near-five-hour opera had been transmitted live in Times Square, adding coyly that, “the opera trumped the presidential debate.”
Hamilton star Javier Muñoz, who took over the titular role from Lin-Manuel Miranda in July, was thrilled to spend five hours of his precious little time off listening to Wagner. However, he forgot to DVR the debate, so he would be watching news coverage the next morning. His date was former Hamilton costar Betsy Struxness, and both actors were excited to hear that fellow Broadway talent Cynthia Erivo was also in attendance. The Color Purple star had swanned in in jet-black feathers and a rippling blonde flapper bob.
Despite the tragic love story, it was an evening of special dates; romantic, familial, and friends: Keri Russell and on- and off-screen love, Matthew Rhys; Adrien Brody and his mother, photographer Sylvia Plachy; Christine Baranski; and former The Good Wife costar Cush Jumbo. During the second intermission, closing in on the debate’s 9:00 p.m. start time, Billions star Malin Akerman nibbled a turkey cheddar sandwich and planned to stay updated via Twitter. Patti Smith, in denim and combat boots, headed back into the theater quietly behind an explosion of cotton-candy tulle that struggled to make it through the doors.
