The Met's Contemporary Opera Gamble
The Metropolitan Opera plans to stage 17 new and recent works over the next five seasons, including seven commissions, as it bets big on operas by living composers. The focus on contemporary opera is a shift, as it has been outselling the classics since the company returned from its pandemic shutdown in fall 2021. The Met's leaders, Peter Gelb and Yannick Nézet-Séguin, discuss their plans for the company's future, including finding the right balance between contemporary and classic works, and the importance of having the music director heavily involved in new operas.