Met orchestra onstage for bows behind Nezet-Seguin
By Associated Press
Dec 5, 2018 6:03 PM CST
In this Dec. 4, 2018 photo released by the Metropolitan Opera, conductor Yannick Nézet-Séguin and the orchestra at a curtain call following the new production premiere of Verdi's "La Traviata," at the Metropolitan Opera in New York. (Jonathan Tichler/Metropolitan Opera via AP)   (Associated Press)

NEW YORK (AP) — Yannick Nezet-Seguin took the rare step of bringing the entire orchestra on stage for curtain calls following his first performance as just the third music director in the Metropolitan Opera's 135-year-history.

The 43-year-old Canadian led Tuesday night's premiere of a new production of Verdi's "La Traviata" by Tony Award-winning director Michael Mayer, starring Diana Damrau, Juan Diego Flores and Quinn Kelsey.

Gold confetti was dropped over Nezet-Seguin during his curtain call, and the orchestra emerged from the wings to take bows behind him — rather than remain in the pit or stand as it does on other nights.

As audience members left, they were handed small bottles of prosecco labeled "Vintage Yannick," with the date and the opera.

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