Metropolitan Opera presents semi-staged `Turandot' after stage malfunction

NEW YORK (AP) — The Metropolitan Opera was forced to stage a semi-staged performance of Puccini's “Turandot” on Wednesday night after a stage elevator jammed.

Met general manager Peter Gelb made an announcement from the stage before the show.

“I’m sorry to say that this is not going to be a normal night at the opera — not that when it comes to the Met, normal and opera are two words that are typically used in the same sentence,” Gelb said.

The Met usually has sets for four different operas in the house at any given time, and Gelb said the malfunction occurred as sets were moved following a daytime rehearsal of Puccini's “La Rondine (The Swallow.)”