Support the Met Broadcasts
The Metropolitan Opera’s Saturday Matinee Radio Broadcasts are the longest-running continuous classical music program in American radio history. Since its debut on Christmas Day 1931, more than 1,900 performances of 230 operas and 15 non-operatic works have been broadcast free of charge, earning dozens of awards, including multiple Peabodys.
Each season, from December to June, live performances are transmitted to more than 8.5 million listeners on over 100 U.S. stations and in 36 countries worldwide. A cornerstone of the Met’s outreach, the broadcasts bring world-class opera to audiences who might not otherwise experience it, featuring today’s most acclaimed singers in performances shared simultaneously with audiences in the opera house.
A Proud Tradition
The Metropolitan Opera’s first live radio broadcast was Humperdinck’s Hansel and Gretel. Since that historic moment, the broadcasts have become a defining part of the Met’s identity, sharing the artistry of the world’s leading opera company with audiences far beyond the opera house. Today, they are heard across the globe over The Robert K. Johnson Foundation Metropolitan Opera International Radio Network, continuing a legacy of excellence in classical music radio for more than nine decades.
Thanks to our Donors!
The Metropolitan Opera gratefully acknowledges all donors whose generosity sustains the Saturday Matinee Broadcasts. We are honored to recognize The Robert K. Johnson Foundation for sponsoring the 2025–26 season. Additional generous support is provided by the Annenberg Foundation and GRoW @ Annenberg, the Cornelia T. Bailey Foundation, the Neubauer Family Foundation, and the Vincent A. Stabile Endowment for Broadcast Media, carrying forward a tradition of support that keeps this beloved series on the air for listeners around the world.
We also thank every donor whose gifts make it possible for millions of listeners to enjoy the Met live from the stage each week of the broadcast season.
Contact Us
For more information on making a gift to this program, please contact 212.362.6000 x 2874 or visit metopera.org/radio.
Support the Met Broadcasts
Development Office
The Metropolitan Opera
Lincoln Center New York, NY 10023
Disclaimer
Contributions to the Saturday Matinee Broadcasts do not confer benefits or privileges and are fully tax-deductible. To learn about priority ticketing and other benefits of the Patron and Guild Membership programs, please visit the membership section of this web site.