On May 20, 2006, cameras in the Metropolitan Opera House captured the gala celebrating the career of the company's general manager, Joseph Volpe, who will retire on August 1, 2006, after an illustrious 42-year career.

On May 20, 2006, cameras in the Metropolitan Opera House captured the gala celebrating the career of the company's general manager, Joseph Volpe, who will retire on August 1, 2006, after an illustrious 42-year career. The "Volpe era" at the Metropolitan has been characterized by innovation in all areas of the opera house - artistic, technical and administrative. The gala featured performances by the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, Chorus and Ballet and internationally acclaimed stars of the operatic stage, including Natalie Dessay, Placido Domingo, Renee Fleming, Juan Diego Florez, Thomas Hampson, Ben Heppner, Dmitri Hvorostovsky, Kiri Te Kanawa, Karita Mattila, James Morris, Frederica von Stade, Deborah Voigt and others.