The Metropolitan Opera is set to kick off its new season with a diverse and captivating lineup that spans contemporary works, classic operas, and even an adaptation of Malcolm X’s life. The fall season promises to be an exciting blend of tradition and innovation, with nine productions scheduled in rotating repertory through New Year’s Eve.
Here’s a glimpse of the exciting productions awaiting opera enthusiasts:
Dead Man Walking (Begins Sept. 26): The Met will debut Jake Heggie and Terrence McNally’s 2000 adaptation of Sister Helen Prejean’s memoir, which explores her interactions with a death row inmate. Ivo van Hove, known for his experimental and multimedia-heavy aesthetic, will direct.
Requiem (Begins Sept. 27): The company will present three concert performances of Verdi’s monumental choral work, based on the Catholic funeral mass, with music director Yannick Nézet-Séguin conducting.
Nabucco (Begins Sept. 28): The season’s first revival is a 2001 staging of Verdi’s biblical opera set in Ancient Babylon, featuring the iconic “Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves.”
La Bohème (Begins Oct. 10): Franco Zeffirelli’s beloved 1981 production of Puccini’s timeless romance, which inspired the rock musical “Rent,” is set to captivate audiences.
Un Ballo in Maschera (Begins Oct. 20): This experimental interpretation of Verdi’s mid-career opera, exploring the assassination of King Gustav III of Sweden at a masked ball in 1792, made its debut in 2012 shortly after Hurricane Katrina.
X: The Life and Times of Malcolm X (Begins Nov. 3): Following the success of Terence Blanchard’s “Fire Shut Up In My Bones” in 2021, the Met will finally present Anthony Davis’ 1986 jazz-influenced opera about civil rights leader Malcolm X. Directed by Robert O’Hara (“Slave Play”), this production is highly anticipated.
Tannhäuser (Begins Nov. 30): The season includes the Wagnerian masterpiece “Tannhäuser,” directed by Otto Schenk in a traditional style dating back to 1977.
Florencia en el Amazonas (Begins Nov. 16): Daniel Catán’s contemporary Spanish-language opera, inspired by Gabriel García Márquez’s magical realism, tells the story of a famous soprano returning to Brazil in search of a lost love. Directed by Mary Zimmerman (“Metamorphoses”).
The Magic Flute (Begins Dec. 8): An abridged English-language adaptation of Julie Taymor’s imaginative production of Mozart’s fairy tale opera has become a beloved holiday tradition at the Met.
Carmen (Begins Dec. 31): The New Year’s Eve premiere presents a modernized vision of one of the world’s most popular operas, with a focus on themes of physical abuse and human trafficking.
The Metropolitan Opera’s fall season promises a rich tapestry of opera, ranging from the timeless classics to contemporary explorations, ensuring an exciting and diverse experience for all opera lovers.
