On Episode # 8 of the OperaWire podcast, David and Francisco Salazar discuss the Met Opera’s financial issues, opera’s connection to “Heated Rivalry,” the new “Tristan und Isolde” production, and the Oscars. Listen here: Or watch on Youtube:
(Credit: Photo: Karen Almond / Met Opera) The Metropolitan Opera is set to present an abridged, English-language version of Massenet’s “Cinderella” in HD. The performance from Jan. 1, 2022 will be shown in select U.S. theaters on Feb. 14 and 18, with additional dates in the Bahamas, Belgium, Canada, Dominican Republic, Finland, Hong Kong, Iceland, Ireland, Latvia, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, {…}
(Credit: Evan Zimmerman) The Metropolitan Opera is in the midst of a revival of Puccini’s “Madama Butterfly” in the acclaimed production by Anthony Minghella. The opera has one of the most complex soprano roles in the repertory, a role that requires stamina as well as vocal agility to shift from lyrical lines to intense dramatic passages. Luckily for this revival {…}
The Metropolitan Opera is set to stage a new production of Janáček’s “Jenůfa” next season. The Associated Press confirmed the news in article regarding a clash with the production of “Carmen.” The new staging, has appeared at London’s Royal Opera and the Lyric Opera of Chicago, will be directed by Claus Guth. It will also features sets by Michael Levine, {…}
(Credit: Metropolitan Opera / Ken Howard) The Metropolitan Opera is set to revive Richard Eyre’s 2009 production of “Carmen.” The AP News confirmed the news in an article in which “A person familiar with the Met’s planning, speaking on condition of anonymity because no announcement had been made, said the company intends in a future year to bring back Richard {…}
The team behind the Metropolitan Opera’s 2023 “Carmen” production is asking the company to remove their names from programs. According to the Associated Press (AP), the dispute began after the company decided to restage certain elements of the production. When the production opened, Escamillo entered in a red Jaguar convertible and was accompanied by his entourage in three pickup trucks. All {…}
(Credit: Jonathan Tichler / Met Opera) The Metropolitan Opera has announced that it is laying off workers, cutting salaries of its top-paid executives, and postponing a new production from its 2026-27 season. The company’s General manager Peter Gelb told the New York Times that he was forced to take these steps due to concerns with the Saudi Arabia deal, under {…}
Jonas Kaufmann has revealed that he will not be returning to the Metropolitan Opera or the Royal Opera House. In a new interview with the Times of London which is set to air on Jan. 2 on the BBC, the tenor said that he had no plans with either theaters for several reasons. At the Met, Kaufmann said he didn’t {…}
(Credit: Jonathan Tichler / Met Opera) The Metropolitan Opera’s Laffont Competition has named Camila Romero of Chile and Valeria Delmé of Argentina as the winners of its inaugural South America Region auditions. Both sopranos will advance directly to the Semifinals of the competition, scheduled for March 15, 2026, at the Metropolitan Opera in New York. Romero and Delmé were selected {…}
On December 2, 2025, the Metropolitan Opera delivered a ray of sunshine with a jubilant opening of Gershwin’s “Porgy and Bess.” Last seen on the Met stage in their 2021 season, this year’s run featured new and returning artists who all came together for something as uplifting as it was exciting. In regard to James Robinson’s production, many of my {…}
Nate, the activist who led the November 21, 2025, disruption of the Metropolitan Opera’s “Carmen,” has issued an open letter addressed to the cast, creative team, and members of the public seeking clarity on the group’s motivations. The letter, which was sent to OperaWire, was written following Smith’s release from Manhattan’s central booking facility and outlines both an apology to {…}