The lucky holders of the free tickets (and all of them have been taken already) will get to view today's final dress rehearsal of the new production that opens the Met's 2007-08 season on Monday (Sept. 24): Donizetti's Lucia di Lammermoor, directed by theater luminary and MacArthur "genius grant" winner Mary Zimmerman, conducted by James Levine and starring Natalie Dessay, Marcello Giordani, Mariusz Kwiecien and John Relyea.

After the rehearsal, which runs from about 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., visitors will be invited to walk across the Met's stage. Artists will be on hand to answer questions, and there will be special exhibits on the new Lucia's set and costume designs.

This year's Open House, like last year's, is underwritten by Metropolitan Opera board member Agnes Varis and her husband Karl Leichtman — the same couple who underwrite the Met's program of 100 $20 rush seats in the orchestra section for performances Monday through Thursday.

Lucia di Lammermoor opens on Monday, September 24, with a gala in the Metropolitan Opera House, free audio-video simulcasts on Josie Robertson Plaza at Lincoln Center and in Times Square, and live audio broadcasts on the Met's Sirius Satellite Radio channel and online at www.metopera.org. The complete run of the production this season includes eight more performances through October 25, followed by three further performances March 5-13.