(Photo: Dmitry Lyapustin) Every Friday, Polina Lyapustina delivers a short essay on some of the most sensitive topics in the industry with the intent of establishing a dialogue about the opera world and its future. The way you enter the New Year sets the tone for the whole year ahead, the old superstition said. And I wonder whether we should {…}
(Credit: Chris Singer) Only seven days before the COVID-19 pandemic fell on our heads, American mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato was in New York portraying the role of Agrippina at the Metropolitan Opera House. Taking on the role of the cunning queen, DiDonato already had been in the eye of the storm. At that moment very few people really understood well what {…}
(Credit: © Gregor Hohenberg) The Metropolitan Opera Stars Live in Concert series continued this Sunday with a performance by the celebrated French-Italian tenor Roberto Alagna and Polish soprano Aleksandra Kurzak on the hilltop medieval village of Èze, France. On the outdoor terrace located at the Château de la Chèvre d’Or, Alagna and Kurzak were accompanied by the Vienna Morphing Quintet. {…}
(Credit: Jonathan Tichler / Met Opera) Whether the Metropolitan Opera starts its 2020-21 season on time remains a mystery. However, what isn’t a mystery is that the company will not move forward with a season with social distancing limitations in place. Per a New York Times article, Met Opera general manager Peter Gelb has noted that the opera house would {…}
The Gold Medal Dinner by the National Institute of Social Sciences has announced that it will honor Met Opera General Manager Peter Gelb at the Metropolitan Club on Dec. 5, 2019. The organization announced that General Manager of the Metropolitan Opera will be honored by soprano Angel Blue and countertenor Anthony Roth Costanzo who will be present at the event. {…}
On November 24, 2019, audiences gathered at the Metropolitan Opera to pay tribute to the life and career of Jessye Norman. The event comprised of musical performances, video highlights of Jessye’s performances, and statements from her family, friends, and colleagues. First among these highlights were two clips of Norman singing “Amazing Grace,” from her performances at the 1997 Presidential Inauguration {…}
Met Opera General Manager Peter Gelb is set to continue to lead the company for years to come. The Metropolitan Opera announced that Gelb’s contract has been extended until the 2026-27 season, eventually making him the third-longest tenured general manager. The company’s board of directors approved a five-year contract with Gelb stating, “It gives me the freedom to execute future {…}
(Credit: Ken Howard / Metropolitan Opera) It was supposed to be the hottest ticket in town. It was the first time Anna Netrebko and Plácido Domingo would grace the Metropolitan Opera together in a production. But we all know how that turned out. For weeks, Met audiences had no clue what to expect. The company said nothing as it awaited {…}
The Metropolitan Opera’s general manager Peter Gelb has stated that Plácido Domingo will continue to perform with the organization as previously scheduled. Per a report from NPR, the manager spoke to members of the chorus and orchestra about allegations against Domingo and noted that he decided to keep Domingo’s performance on the schedule because he did not feel that the {…}
The Metropolitan Opera’s General Manager Peter Gelb will be among those receiving honorary doctorates of Musical Arts from the Manhattan School of Music during its commencement ceremony on Friday, May 10, 2019. Gelb will also give a Commencement address at the Ceremony, which is part of the institution’s 100th anniversary celebration. Gelb will be honored alongside conductor Jane Glover, composer {…}
On Friday, Oct. 26, the Metropolitan Opera Guild presented its Annual Luncheon to honor the career of superstar soprano Anna Netrebko. Titled “Amazing Anna” and taking place at Cipriani 42nd Street (and without too many flowers as per the honoree’s request), the event was befitting of the famed diva, proving entertaining and breezing by in a way that these events {…}