Peter Gelb Makes Statements on Anna Netrebko Fallout, the Anti-LGBTQ Law in Russia, State Funding & Diversity at the Met

In a recent interview appearing in Van Magazin, Jeffrey Arlo Brown spoke with Met General Manager Peter Gelb in which he discussed a wide variety of topics, with considerable questioning around the Russian war on Ukraine, his falling out with soprano Anna Netrebko following an expose where the New York Times revealed she had filed a grievance against the Metropolitan Opera, {…}

Jun 22, 2022

Albina Shagimuratova Out of Metropolitan Opera’s ‘Idomeneo’ Revival

Albina Shagimuratova will no longer sing in the revival of the Metropolitan Opera’s upcoming production of “Idomeneo.” Per the Met’s website, the Russian soprano will be replaced by Federica Lombardi, who will sing the role of Elettra. Shagimuratova recently performed at the Mariinsky Theatre in the theater’s Stars of the White Night Festival in a production of “Lucia di Lammermoor” {…}

Jun 14, 2022

Metropolitan Opera’s Ticket Sales Down During 2021-22 Season

Following a season of no cancelations due to COVID-19, the Metropolitan Opera has released its final ticket sale numbers. According to the Independent in the U.K., the company sold 61 percent of available tickets during the 2021-22 season after returning from a one and a-half-year absence. However, sales were down from 75 percent in last pre-pandemic season and when discounted {…}

Jun 10, 2022

Sonya Yoncheva, Juan Diego Flórez, Natalie Dessay, Patricia Racette, Renée Fleming Headline Metropolitan Opera’s Summer Encore 2022 Series

The Metropolitan Opera, together with Fathom Events, has announced that it will be presenting summer encore performances of its Live in HD series. The Encore series kicks off with a repeat screening of the 2015 production of “The Merry Widow” starring Renée Fleming, Nathan Gunn, Kelli O’Hara, Alek Shrader, and Thomas Allen. Andrew Davis conducts. Screening Date: July 13, 2022 {…}

Jun 4, 2022

Metropolitan Opera 2021-22 Review: Akhnaten

(Photo Credit: Ken Howard / Met Opera) Opera is a way in which we can creatively examine momentous historical shifts and rediscover the possibilities of radical change in an existentially emblematic and exuberant way, especially at the Met. However, what is it that makes this art form balanced enough not to tip over into becoming purposefully deceptive and overly politically {…}

Jun 2, 2022

Anna Netrebko Will Not Perform in Russia

Anna Netrebko will not sing in Russia for the time being. In a new interview with Zeit Online, the soprano made it clear that she has no plans to sing in her home country. She said, “I have no plans at the moment to sing in Russia, not even at the White Nights Festival in St. Petersburg, because I don’t {…}

May 22, 2022

Word Search: Complete the Name of these Famed Opera Companies

For this edition of the word search, we are going to spotlight some of the most renowned opera companies in the world. Instructions: You are free to solve the word search directly on your mobile or desktop device; just click the first and last letter of each word for it to appear on the screen. For those using a mobile {…}

May 18, 2022

Metropolitan Opera 2021-22 Review: La Bohème, Spring Cast

(Credit: Evan Zimmerman) Met audiences love “La Bohème.” The company has staged the opera 1,356 times over the past 122 years and has presented the Zeffirelli production for the last 40. The years-long affair with Puccini’s story of Parisian bohemians centers on one of the most potent motivating forces in our lives: love, and we like to see romance play {…}

May 18, 2022

Mariinsky Theatre Mezzo to Perform at Metropolitan Opera After Showing Support for Gergiev

On May 28, the Metropolitan Opera will revive a production of Verdi’s “Rigoletto” will a new cast that will include Mariinsky Theatre singer Yulia Matochkina. The performances at the Metropolitan Opera will mark the mezzo’s debut and will also come after the mezzo performed at the Mariinsky Theatre, a state-funded theater in Russia that President Vladimir Putin has supported throughout {…}

May 18, 2022

Metropolitan Opera Announces Cast Changes for ‘Hamlet’

The Metropolitan Opera has announced cast changes for its production of “Hamlet.” The company noted that due to COVID-19, Aryeh Nussbaum Cohen and Christopher Lowrey have canceled their performances on May 18 and 21. As a result, Daniel Moody will sing the role of Rosencrantz and Eric Jurenas will sing the role of Guildenstern. Moody has performed at the Cincinnati Opera, {…}

May 14, 2022

Metropolitan Opera 2021-22 Review: Hamlet

(Credit: Karen Almond / Met Opera) Back in 2017, The Guardian meditated on why, despite being one of the world’s greatest plays, “Hamlet” had no great corresponding operatic adaptation. The article notes that despite there being about 40 actual operatic adaptations, none have stood the test of time or held the stage. Perhaps the lone work with staying power is {…}