We invite you to join us as we celebrate opening night at the Metropolitan Opera! On Tuesday, September 26, 2023, the Met premiered Jake Heggie’s - Dead Man Walking to kick off its 2023-24 Season. The choice to premier a new work on opening night is indicative of the Met’s commitment to furthering the art form with a focus on its future. In the intrepid spirit of exploring Opera’s horizons, the 2023-24 Met Season is presenting more new works and new productions than ever before, with many of them undertaking provocative and challenging new material. This season is sure to be remarkable. 

At Tamsen Z, the Metropolitan Opera is a great source of inspiration. Our very own Ann Ziff, Tamsen Z founder and designer, serves as Chairman of the Metropolitan Opera. The spirit and style of the Met comes across in many Tamsen Z designs. 

For Tamsen Z, opening night represents a new season of art, fashion, and high-jewelry. We’ve specially selected pieces whose designs embody the spirit of Opening Night at the Met, featuring them in a series of original illustrations to celebrate the occasion!

Tamsen Z’s Metropolitan Opera Illustration Collection 

Rutilated Quartz, Citrine and 22K Gold Necklace 

This illustration is inspired by the Met lobby. Unique in its soaring terrazzo cantilevered staircases and Modernist curves, there is no better place for a red carpet moment than the lobby of the opera house. In place of the gold railing that ascends the stairs, our Rutilated Quartz, Citrine and 22K Gold Necklace spirals round in glittering ribbons of gold. 

The Metropolitan Opera House is an architectural icon and the crown jewel of Lincoln Center. The show stopping attire of our opening night attendees looks wonderful out on the red carpet. But these gala looks really come to life within the opera house lobby. The spectacle of chic tuxedos, gowns and jewels twinkling upon smiling faces, finds itself at home amidst the Met’s fabulous architecture and decor.

Ruby and Diamond Bombe Ring 

Our Ruby and Diamond Bombe Ring is the statement piece of this bold look, illustrating the quintessential opera diva. With voluminous curls piled atop her gem studded headwrap, she is the very picture of drama in a divine low-back gown, complete with opera gloves. 

Bold, dazzling and elegant, Tuesday's red carpet looks matched the night’s vivacious energy, as we celebrate the start of an unprecedented season, bringing to the stage more new works and new productions than ever before and giving voice to a rising generation of artists.

Diamond Creole Earrings 

This patron is the belle of the ball in her ‘Diamond Creole Earring’ “gown”. Fashionably late, fun and fabulous, this look celebrates Opening Night as a true black-tie occasion. These pavé white gold discs playfully incorporate a variety of sizes of glittering diamonds; the perfect piece for full-on glamor. We’re pulling out all the stops; it’s opening night after all.

18k Gold Bow Tie Ring 

This opera goer is enjoying her intermission champagne on the Grand Tier. This look is classic, sweet and sensual, all tied together with our 18k Gold Bow Tie Ring. A night at the opera is always a festive affair, and at the Metropolitan Opera House, champagne is tradition at intermission. A chance to step out into the brisk air on the balcony of the Grand Tier, to take in the brilliant splashing lights of Lincoln Center Plaza easily tops the list of romantic New York City traditions. 

As ushers call the audience back to the show with the sound of chimes, bringing intermission to a close, the hurried walk back to your seat brings into full view the glittering starbursts of the Swarovski ‘Sputnik’ chandeliers.

The Sputnik Collection 

Sputnik Collection 

We can’t mention the famous ‘Sputnik’ Swarovski chandeliers without gushing over our own namesake collection. 

The iconic starburst chandeliers have been a landmark feature of the Metropolitan Opera house since their installation in 1966, captivating audiences as they ascend stories high toward the golden ceiling, marking the start of each performance. In 2008, the Met undertook a major restoration of the Sputnik chandeliers, taking great care in dismantling and transporting the giant works of art across the Atlantic to Vienna for the cleaning and replacement of damaged crystals. 

However, the broken and damaged pieces of the original 1966 swarovski crystal did not go to waste. Ziff repurposed the original crystal to create her own Sputnik collection of jewelry. 

All our pieces are one of a kind. With the Sputnik collection, not only is your piece the only one of its kind in the world, it is also a genuine piece of history. 100% of the proceeds from the Sputnik Collection go directly to supporting the Metropolitan Opera. These pieces truly are treasures. When you wear one of them, it ties directly to the Met’s history and sparkling legacy of the Swarovski chandeliers. 

Conclusion 

Thank you for joining us in celebration of the Metropolitan Opera 2023-24 season! These original illustrations were created to capture the spectacular spirit of the occasion, and we hope you enjoyed them. Each opening night gala, it is a joy to see Tamsen Z pieces worn by some of the most beautiful operatic voices of our time. It is our privilege and great pleasure to be so closely tied to the Metropolitan Opera, both philanthropically and as a source of inspiration to our brand.