My mom saw a great opera at the met; I just missed being able to go (had to get home to FL) and I wanted SO much to go. Can’t remember what it was but it was something traditional; maybe Madame Butterfly.
When I got home she called and told me it was horrible. She said I don’t know what they thought they were doing but it had weird costumes and settings and she had no idea what was going on - one of those strange avant garde things. They went with a whole bunch of friends and everyone hated it.
That may have been the Ken Russell staging that ends with the atomic bombing of Hiroshima (I'm not kidding!).
Some more examples: Der Rosenkavalier by Richard Strauss - there is a scene where Baron Ochs meets with Octavian (who is dressed as a maid) and attempts to seduce "her". This scene is usually set in a tavern. A recent production set it in a brothel, replete with nude and semi nude couples simulating intercourse all over the stage. It is getting to be a rare event to see an opera staged in the time and style in which the composer intended.