Opera Live in Prospect Park

Love is in the air at Prospect Park. At least according to the Metropolitan Opera, which presents "Met Summer Concert: Live in Prospect Park" Friday as part of its Met in the Parks series. The opera company is expecting its largest audience ever for this outdoor concert, which will feature soprano Angela Gheorghiu and tenor Roberto Alagna, performing arias and duets by Verdi, Puccini, Donizetti, Massenet, and others. Conductor Ion Marin will lead the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra.

What many outside the opera world might not know is that the two Met stars, Ms. Gheorghiu and Mr. Alagna, are also a couple. The pair were married by Mayor Giuliani in 1996, backstage at the Met during a run of "La Bohème." Next season at the Met, Ms. Gheorghiu will sing the role of Adina in Puccini's "La Rondine," while Mr. Alagna is cast in the part of Ruggero.

Although Central Park is frequently the site of the Met's outdoor series, the trip south on Friday gives Brooklynites (alongside other city residents, of course) a chance to enjoy opera on their own turf. With about 150,000 people expected to attend, spots near the stage will be in short supply, but six jumbo screens mounted around the park's Long Meadow Ballfields will also offer a good view.

Moreover, nice weather presents an excellent opportunity for a picnic in the park, whether homemade or with the array of snacks available at the park's Wollman Rink. The rain date is Saturday night. (Friday, 8 p.m., Prospect Park, Prospect Park West at 9th Street, Brooklyn, free. For complete information, go to prospectpark.org/calendar/event/metopera.)

GETTING THERE

The easiest way to get to the Long Meadow Ballfields at Prospect Park is by subway: Take the F to the Seventh Avenue stop (enter at 9th Street and Prospect Park West) or to the 15th Street stop (enter at Bartel Pritchard Square near 15th Street). Concertgoers can also take the 2 or 3 train to Grand Army Plaza.

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