When the Metropolitan Opera opened its doors on 13 November 1966, the first applause was for the chandeliers that rose to the ceiling along with the first curtain. The media and the public alike were impressed by the Starburst chandeliers from Vienna. These were a gift from the Republic of Austria to the United States as a token of gratitude for their post-WWII reconstruction assistance. The design of these now iconic chandeliers was from the pen of Lobmeyr owner Hans Harald Rath, who worked on-site with the opera’s architects. Resembling our notions of distant galaxies, the shape of the chandelier reflects the concept of space travel that was quite prevalent at the time. The chandeliers in the foyer can be seen from afar, and soon became the trademark of the famous opera house—a tremendous honour for our company! In 2008, the 11 crystal chandeliers were transported to Vienna for a thorough restoration. After 1,200 hours of work, all 51,500 crystals, 50,000 wheel spokes, 1,000 brass rays, and 800 Sputnik elements were restored to their former glory. Due to the short period that the opera was shuttered, everything had to be done in only nine and a half weeks. This was only possible due to the tremendous preparation that led up to the actual placement of the order, as well as the professional dismantling and disassembly in advance by the Metropolitan Opera team. It was a moment of great pride for us to see how strongly the employees of the opera identify with their stunning chandeliers.