Opening Night For The Met

The Metropolitan Opera staged a gala evening for Renee Fleming to launch its 125th season Sept. 22, 2008, at New York's Lincoln Center. Fleming performed in Act 3 of "Manon," the closing scene of "Capriccio" and, pictured here with Thomas Hampson, Act 2 of "La Traviata."

A red-carpet event, the performance drew a star-filled audience, dressed in glamorous gowns and tuxedos. Here, model Helena Christensen shows off her gown before the Metropolitan Opera's opening night gala performance at Lincoln Center on Monday, Sept. 22, 2008, in New York.

Renee Fleming, seen here as Madeleine in the final scene of Richard Straus' "Capriccio," wore four specially designed costumes. Christian Lacroix made two costumes for Act 2 of "La Traviata," Karl Lagerfeld dressed her in grey silk for "Manon" and John Galliano designed the costume for "Capriccio," a slinky, softly draped black dress, under an extravagant peacock-and-gold embroidered jacket.

Actress Jane Fonda attends the Metropolitan Opera's opening night gala at Lincoln Center on Monday, Sept. 22, 2008, in New York.

Model Christie Brinkley attends the Metropolitan Opera's opening night gala at Lincoln Center on Monday, Sept. 22, 2008, in New York.

Actress Faye Dunaway poses on the red carpet before the Metropolitan Opera's opening night gala performance at Lincoln Center on Monday, Sept. 22, 2008, in New York.

Former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger and his wife, Nancy, attend the Metropolitan Opera season opening gala performance at Lincoln Center on Monday, Sept. 22, 2008, in New York.

Actress Christine Baranski, left, and her daughter Isabel Cowles pose together before the Metropolitan Opera opening night gala performance at Lincoln Center on Monday, Sept. 22, 2008, in New York.

Oscar-winning actress Helen Mirren and singer Rufus Wainwright pose together before the Metropolitan Opera opening night gala performance at Lincoln Center on Monday, Sept. 22, 2008, in New York.

Television personality Martha Stewart attends the Metropolitan Opera's season opening gala performance at Lincoln Center on Monday, Sept. 22, 2008, in New York.

Actress Julianna Margulies and her husband, Keith Lieberthal, attend the Metropolitan Opera season opening gala performance at Lincoln Center on Monday, Sept. 22, 2008, in New York.

Cellist Yo-Yo Ma, left, and his daughter Emily attend the Metropolitan Opera season opening gala performance at Lincoln Center on Monday, Sept. 22, 2008, in New York.

Television journalist Barbara Walters attends the Metropolitan Opera's opening night gala at Lincoln Center on Monday, Sept. 22, 2008, in New York.

Actress Molly Sims attends the Metropolitan Opera season opening gala performance at Lincoln Center on Monday, Sept. 22, 2008, in New York.

Actress Parker Posey walks the red carpet before the Metropolitan Opera's season opening gala performance at Lincoln Center on Monday, Sept. 22, 2008, in New York.

Actor John Turturro and his wife, Katherine Borowitz, pose for a photo at the Metropolitan Opera's season opening gala performance at Lincoln Center on Monday, Sept. 22, 2008, in New York.

Actress Taylor Momsen of "Gossip Girl" attends the Metropolitan Opera opening night gala performance at Lincoln Center on Monday, Sept. 22, 2008, in New York.

Actress Helen Mirren, left, and actress Christine Baranski pose together at the Metropolitan Opera's opening night gala performance at Lincoln Center on Monday, Sept. 22, 2008, in New York.