On Dec. 12 Verdi’s “Nabucco” opened at the Metropolitan Opera with a star studded cast and an unexpected encore by the chorus in “Va, Pensiero.” Placido Domingo made his Met role debut in the title role with James Levine conducting. The duo has performed at the Met since 1971 in over 300 performances.

The occasion also saw Luidmyla Monastryska reteam with Domingo after their successful Royal Opera House performances of “Nabucco.”  Jamie Barton, Russell Thomas and Dmitry Belosselskiy rounded out the cast in the revival of Elijah Moshinsky’s legendary production. The Verdi opera will be shown Live in HD later in the run. So what did audiences think of the production and the cast on opening night?

Encore! Va, pensiero… #Verdi #Nabucco @MetOpera

— Jeff Briscoe (@jeffbriscoe) December 13, 2016

@METOrchestra @MetOperaChorus @travlingtenor @jbartonmezzo #LiudmylaMonastyrska @PlacidoDomingo #Nabucco sounding fantastic here in snowy NH

— Sandra Furman (@SandyFurman1) December 13, 2016

This is amazing! Nabucco at @MetOpera with @PlacidoDomingo pic.twitter.com/SBh8UsfcZX

— Andrew Haviland (@AndrewThehav) December 13, 2016

Dio mi giuda. Por @PlacidoDomingo en el @MetOpera. Qué maravilla. https://t.co/a8N4Lfv7VT

— Gonzalo (@gonzalolim) December 13, 2016

The @MetOperaChorus @MetOpera got an encore today during Nabucco performance! Ain’t that something? #spoiled

— Ivan Pena (@mpkblydspkbl) December 13, 2016

@MetOpera @PlacidoDomingo @jbartonmezzo @SIRIUSXM
Thanks, it was beautiful!

— JS Walker (@Juswlkr) December 13, 2016

Opéra at the Met was as awesome as I thought it would be😀👍👌👏

— Julie Desautels (@bonjour_julie) December 13, 2016