venerable • \ˈve-nər(-ə)-bəl, ˈven-rə-bəl\ • adjective
1. profoundly honored
2. impressive by reason of age
The word venerable has appeared in 406 New York Times articles in the past year, including on Dec. 11 in “Lincoln Center Works to Attract a Younger Audience” by Joshua Barone:
Fridays Under 40, introduced at the Metropolitan Opera this season, also includes a preshow party and a later curtain to sweeten the deal for young professionals who want to turn a night at the opera into a social event. (The Met continues to offer $25 rush tickets to the general public.) Themes for these monthly parties are always pegged to the opera of the night, which so far has included tuneful favorites of the repertory: Verdi’s “Otello” and “Rigoletto,” and Puccini’s “Tosca.”
Peter Gelb, general manager of the Met, said, “It’s essential for all venerable institutions to shed their elitist image, but also embrace younger audiences.” He added, “That has colored virtually everything we do.”
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