Behind the Seams: Costuming the Met

Behind the Seams: Costuming the Met is the largest costume exhibition in the Metropolitan Opera's history, in Founders Hall on the Concourse Level of the Metropolitan Opera House. The exhibition traces the company's evolution, featuring more than 20 pieces tied to productions in the 2025–26 season alongside garments dating from the late 19th century to today. The two galleries create a deliberate split: the north gallery holds the physical garments, while the south is devoted to photographs and other archival ephemera. Highlights include Cecil Beaton's gown for Birgit Nilsson in the 1961 Turandot, along with costumes and elements from Carmen, La Fille du Régiment, La Traviata, Tristan und Isolde, and Die Zauberflöte. The show also spotlights lesser-known figures in opera history, such as a kimono worn by Japanese soprano Tamaki Miura, who — despite never performing at the Met — became the first Asian singer to earn international recognition for her portrayal of Cio-Cio San in Puccini's Madama Butterfly. Rare designs by Valentina and Marc Chagall further round out the display of artistry behind the stage. The garments on view are the product of the Met's costume shops, where roughly 110 artisans work year-round, clothing the singers who populate the company's productions.