During Podcast Interview, Peter Gelb Blames Met Struggles on Trump Policies, Issues Warning of Autocrats Controlling Arts Institutions

Peter Gelb is warning that the arts are under threat from the rise of authoritarian regimes. In an interview with Backstage Classical, the Metropolitan Opera General Manager told Axel Brüggemann that President Donald Trump’s administration has impacted the arts and the Met’s audiences. Gelb stated that the new policies that have been implemented by the administration have seen a decline {…}

Jun 17, 2025

Metropolitan Opera Announces Expansion of Laffont Competition

(Credit: Jonathan Tichler / Met Opera) The Metropolitan Opera has announced that the Eric and Dominique Laffont Competition is expanding to South America. The company will expand to Santiago, Chile, beginning in the 2025–26 season. The South America Region and the Districts will include Argentina, Chile, and Colombia Districts and will be supported by the partnering organization Fundación Ibañez Atkinson. {…}

Jun 14, 2025

Metropolitan Opera’s 2024-25 Season Attendance Drops in Spring Season; Modern Operas Continue to Lag Behind

The Metropolitan Opera’s 2024-25 season attendance dropped in the spring portion, falling below projections. According to the AP News, the company’s season sold 72 percent of capacity, matching the 2023-24 season. That was three percent down from its 75 percent projection from the winter. In February, the Met reported that the first half of the season had seen 70 percent {…}

Jun 11, 2025

Diana Damrau, Juan Diego Flórez, Nadine Sierra & Piotr Beczała Lead Metropolitan Opera’s 2025 Live in HD Summer Encores

The Metropolitan Opera has announced the 2025 Summer Encores, which will be presented between July 23 and August 13. Here are the encore screenings. Verdi’s “La Traviata” from Dec.15, 2018, will be showcased. The performance showcases Michael Mayer’s production starring soprano Diana Damrau and tenor Juan Diego Flórez. Music Director Yannick Nézet-Séguin conducts. Encore Date: July 23, 2025 Nadine Sierra {…}

Jun 6, 2025

Q & A: Violetta Urmana on her Return to the Metropolitan Opera, ‘The Queen of Spades’ & ‘La Gioconda’

Violetta Urmana had not sung at the Metropolitan Opera since 2017. For 16 years, she was a leading soprano for the company, performing both mezzo and soprano roles in many of the most dramatic roles in the repertoire. Her “Aida” was one of the most memorable interpretations and was even recorded on HD, while her “La Gioconda” was iconic. She {…}

Jun 6, 2025

Metropolitan Opera Announces Special Performance with Andrea Bocelli

The Metropolitan Opera has announced that Andrea Bocelli will perform in concert. The company said that Bocelli will perform on Oct. 5, 2025 for a one-night-only performance of Italian opera favorites. Bocelli previously performed on the Met stage in 2019 alongside numerous opera singers. The concert is the latest special event that the Met announced following performances from Kristen Chenoweth, {…}

Jun 6, 2025

Metropolitan Opera & AGMA Reach Tentative Agreement

The Metropolitan Opera and the American Guild of Musical Artists (AGMA), the union of the Met chorus, soloists, dancers, full-time actors, stage managers, stage directors, and choreographers have reached a tentative agreement on a new one-year contract, subject to a ratification vote by its members that will be completed later this month. The new agreement will take effect on August {…}

Jun 4, 2025

Metropolitan Opera Showcases Last Minute Debut for ‘The Queen of Spades’

The Metropolitan Opera saw a huge debut at the June 4 performance of “The Queen of Spades.” Galina Cheplakova sang the role of Lisa stepping in for Sonya Yoncheva. Cheplakova has performed with the Bashkir State Opera, Oper Graz, the State Opera in Kazakhstan, Tokyo Symphony Orchestra, and Berliner Philharmoniker. She has also covered at the Bayerische Staatsoper. Her repertoire {…}

Jun 4, 2025

Metropolitan Opera 2024-25 Review: La Bohème (Spring Cast)

(Photos: Evan Zimmerman / Met Opera) The Metropolitan Opera’s spring cast for Franco Zeffirelli’s production of Puccini’s “La Bohème” left a lasting impression through this most iconic work. Conductor Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Jeanette Lerman-Neubauer Music Director of Met Opera, made the night fun and engaging for audience members of all ages and backgrounds, along with a stellar cast of voices including {…}

May 31, 2025

Q & A: Rachel Willis-Sørensen on Winning the Beverly Sills Award

(Credit: Jonathan Tichler / Met Opera) In 2006, the Beverly Sills Award was established to help further the careers of rising stars by providing additional funding for vocal coaching, language study, travel costs, and other professional expenses. Sills was well-known as a supporter and friend to developing young artists, and the award was meant to honor her legacy as an {…}

May 30, 2025

Metropolitan Opera 2024-25 Review: The Queen of Spades

(This review was written in collaboration with Francisco Salazar) The road to the Met Opera’s second performance of “The Queen of Spades” on Wednesday, May 28, was almost as dramatic as the opera itself. The role of Hermann is a monster. One of the most difficult in the repertoire, not only does it challenge the tenor taking it on with {…}