Tag

Metropolitan Opera

All articles tagged with #metropolitan opera

business1 month ago•5 min saved

Met Opera Cuts Jobs, Slashes Pay, and Delays New Production Amid Saudi Funding Uncertainty

The Metropolitan Opera announced layoffs of 22 administrative staff and 35 executives earning over $150,000, with 4–15% pay cuts for top earners, and will delay Mussorgsky’s Khovanshchina for the 2026–27 season while reducing next year’s slate to 17 productions. The moves stem from concerns about the Saudi funding arrangement that would subsidize the company’s planned performances in Diriyah; officials also floated selling the theater’s two Chagall murals (valued at about $55 million) and possibly selling naming rights, though murals would stay in the building. Gelb and Nézet-Séguin will take temporary pay reductions, with a plan to restore salaries in 2027. The situation follows ongoing controversy over the Saudi deal and its implications for the Met’s finances.

via OperaWire|

#business #khovanshchina-postponement #layoffs

business1 month ago•1 min saved

Met Opera Restructures With Layoffs and Shortened Season Amid Saudi Funding

Facing ongoing financial strain, the Metropolitan Opera announced layoffs, salary cuts for top executives, and postponement of a new production, while drawing on its endowment and a $200 million Saudi funding deal; the company may also sell its $55 million Chagall murals to stabilize finances.

via The New York Times|

#business #endowment #layoffs

arts-and-culture5 months ago•1 min saved

Metropolitan Opera's 'Kavalier & Clay' Celebrates Comic Book Magic

The Metropolitan Opera's adaptation of Michael Chabon's novel 'The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay' is criticized for being superficial and not capturing the depth of the original story, which explores complex themes of Americanness, Jewish identity, love, and pop culture during WWII.

via The New York Times|

#arts-and-culture #kavalier-and-clay #metropolitan-opera

arts-and-culture5 months ago•2 min saved

Met Opera's 'Kavalier & Clay' Celebrates Comic Book Magic

The Metropolitan Opera returns to its roots with the premiere of Mason Bates's 'The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay,' a modern opera based on Michael Chabon's novel, blending traditional and contemporary elements, and addressing relevant social themes with a vibrant production and strong performances.

via The Times|

#arts-and-culture #metropolitan-opera #new-opera

world6 months ago•1 min saved

Young Arts Patron Dies After Donation Falls Through

Matthew Christopher Pietras, a prominent arts donor in New York, was found dead after a controversial $10 million donation to the Metropolitan Opera was questioned, raising suspicions about the source of his funds and the circumstances of his death.

via The New York Times|

#arts #donation #metropolitan-opera

entertainment1 year ago

Angelina Jolie Embodies Maria Callas in New Film Amid Personal Struggles

Angelina Jolie is set to portray the legendary opera singer Maria Callas in an upcoming film. The article details Jolie's visit to the Metropolitan Opera as part of her preparation for the role, highlighting her dedication to authentically capturing Callas's life and career.

via The New York Times|

#angelina-jolie #entertainment #film

arts-and-culture1 year ago

Freddie De Tommaso Shines in Met Opera's 'Tosca'

Lise Davidsen delivers a powerful performance in Puccini's 'Tosca' at the Metropolitan Opera, showcasing her vocal prowess and emotional depth in the title role. The production highlights Davidsen's ability to capture the dramatic intensity of the opera, making it a memorable experience for audiences.

via The New York Times|

#arts-and-culture #lise-davidsen #metropolitan-opera

arts1 year ago•2 min saved

"Met Opera Overcomes Technical Mishap to Keep the Show Going"

The Metropolitan Opera put on a semi-staged version of Puccini’s “Turandot” after a backstage lift got jammed, forcing the company to improvise a set. Despite the technical mishap, most audience members stayed for the performance, which featured the cast and chorus singing from an improvised set. This is not the first time technical issues have affected productions at the Met, but the general manager expects things to be back to normal for the next performance.

via The New York Times|

#arts #metropolitan-opera #puccini

music2 years ago•1 min saved

"Met Opera's 'Forza del Destino' Takes Center Stage in Spectacular Performances"

Lise Davidsen cements her stardom in the Metropolitan Opera's new production of Verdi's "La Forza del Destino" with her pure and powerful soprano voice, despite some moments that called for a more fiery delivery. Davidsen's coolly powerful authority and generosity in her singing make her a rare artist, even as she enters the Italian repertoire at the Met.

via The New York Times|

#la-forza-del-destino #lise-davidsen #metropolitan-opera

arts2 years ago•2 min saved

"Met Opera Utilizes Endowment to Navigate Economic Downturn"

The Metropolitan Opera has withdrawn nearly $40 million from its endowment to cover operating expenses as it continues to recover from the pandemic. Despite the financial challenges, the company sees signs of improvement, with increased paid attendance, growing interest in Live in HD cinema broadcasts, and a younger audience for contemporary opera. The Met expects substantial cash gifts to replenish the endowment in the coming years and is also seeking a transformative gift to support its recovery efforts.

via The New York Times|

#arts #cash-gifts #endowment-fund

arts-and-culture2 years ago•1 min saved

Opera Superfan's Generous Legacy: Millions for Singers and the Arts

Lois Kirschenbaum, a frugal opera fan who left a $200k bequest to support young singers, has posthumously revealed savings of $4 million, much of which will go to arts organizations, but none to the Metropolitan Opera, which banned her from the backstage in the 1990s.

via Slipped Disc|

#arts-and-culture #arts-organizations #bequest

music2 years ago•1 min saved

"Opera Superfan's Generous Legacy: Millions Donated to Arts and Singers"

Lois Kirschenbaum, a devoted opera fan who passed away in 2021, surprised cultural groups with $1.7 million in donations from her life savings. Despite living a modest lifestyle as a former switchboard operator, Kirschenbaum left substantial gifts to organizations such as the New York City Opera, American Ballet Theater, Carnegie Hall, and the Public Theater, much to the surprise of her friends and the recipients. Her frugal habits and dedication to the arts have left a lasting impact on the cultural community.

via The New York Times|

#arts #cultural-groups #donation

music2 years ago•1 min saved

Lackluster 'Magic Flute' at the Met: A Review

The Metropolitan Opera's production of "The Magic Flute - Holiday Presentation," directed by Julie Taymor, lacks some luster in its recent run. While the staging, featuring diaphanous puppets and translucent set pieces, brings a weightlessness to Mozart's opera, the cast's broad performance for the young audience and the thin, tinny sound of the orchestra detract from the overall experience.

via The New York Times|

#julie-taymor #metropolitan-opera #music

climate-changeprotests2 years ago•3 min saved

Climate Protesters Disrupt Metropolitan Opera Performance

Climate protesters from Extinction Rebellion NYC interrupted the opening night performance of Richard Wagner's "Tannhäuser" at the Metropolitan Opera in New York. They unfurled banners reading "No Opera On A Dead Planet," leading Met officials to bring down the curtain halfway through the second act. The performance resumed after the protesters were removed, but further interruptions occurred. The show was delayed by 22 minutes, and the production ended closer to midnight. This incident follows a trend of climate activists disrupting cultural events to draw attention to the climate crisis.

via The New York Times|

#climate-changeprotests #climate-protesters #extinction-rebellion

arts-and-culture2 years ago•5 min saved

"Florencia en el Amazonas: Spanish Opera Returns to the Met after a Century"

The Metropolitan Opera premiered Daniel Catán's "Florencia en el Amazonas," making it the company's first work by a Latin American composer and the first Spanish-language opera in nearly a century. The opera, set in the Amazon rainforest, pays tribute to opera itself with lush, tonal music reminiscent of earlier eras. While lacking in vivid characterization and compelling drama, the production features a strong performance by soprano Ailyn Pérez in the title role. The opera's brevity and polished score, conducted by Yannick Nézet-Séguin, are notable, but the overall experience feels encased in nostalgia and lacks the galvanic musical developments of the past century.

via The New York Times|

#ailyn-perez #arts-and-culture #daniel-catan