Upcoming Talks and Events
April 18, 7:30PM
The Divine Feminine in El Niño: An Evening of Latinx Poetry, Music, and Dance
Judson Memorial Church
The Met and Qween Jean of Judson Memorial Church present an evening of Latinx poetry, music, and dance, with a special focus on the work of Rosario Castellanos. Director Lileana Blain-Cruz joins Ghanaian artist JOJO ABOT in conversation, and a diverse lineup of women artists present performances of opera, multi-media art, dance, and poetry curated by CantoMundo's Deborah Paredez. Free; registration required.
April 19, 6PM
El Niño at Fordham University: Opera, Baby Jesus, and Today’s Refugees
Church of St. Paul the Apostle
The Met partners with Fordham University for a conversation at the Church of St. Paul the Apostle. David Gibson, director of Fordham's Center on Religion and Culture, moderates the discussion among Lileana Blain-Cruz, director of the Met premiere of El Niño, Fadi Skeiker of the university’s theater department, and Fordham theology professor Leo Guardado. Mezzo-soprano Daniela Mack also performs a selection from the score. Free; registration required.
May 6, 7PM
The Metropolitan Opera Celebrates Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage with WQXR The Greene Space
The Met and WQXR celebrate Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month with a concert in the Greene Space, featuring AAPI artists singing favorite repertoire and musical selections that reflect their heritage. Met Radio Host Debra Lew Harder also moderates a conversation with soprano Ying Fang, countertenor Siman Chung, and Tony Award–winning set designer Mimi Lien. Complimentary pre-performance light bites will be provided courtesy of Pearl River Mart. Free, registration required.
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Past Events
February 22, 7:30PM
Opera Evolved: Genre Fluidity
National Sawdust
The second installment of this three-part series celebrates artistic convergence by investigating the intersection of innovation and tradition at National Sawdust. This event brings together a diverse array of multi-faceted artists, including Paola Prestini, esteemed composer and co-founder and artistic director of National Sawdust, and dynamic theater and opera director Lileana Blain-Cruz. Attendees will be treated to rich discussions and captivating performances that highlight genre-blending compositions and illustrate the transformative power of opera.
Leading Ladies: Kamilah Forbes and Lileana Blain-Cruz in Conversation
April 3, 7:30PM
The Apollo Stages at the Victoria
The Apollo and the Metropolitan Opera join forces to highlight the dynamic careers of two of New York’s boldest theater and opera directors. Kamilah Forbes, executive producer at The Apollo, and Lileana Blain-Cruz, director of the Met premiere of John Adams’s El Niño, conduct an intimate conversation centered on directing in different genres, scales, and subjects.
April 1, 7pm
Works & Process
The Guggenheim Museum, Peter B. Lewis Theater
Prior to the April 23 company premiere of John Adams’s El Niño, Met General Manager Peter Gelb moderates a discussion with members of the creative team, and cast members perform highlights from the powerful score. Eminent American composer John Adams returns to the Metropolitan Opera after a decade-long hiatus with his acclaimed opera-oratorio, an extraordinarily dramatic retelling of the Nativity, which incorporates sacred and secular texts in English, Spanish, and Latin, from biblical times to the present day. El Niño brings together some of contemporary opera’s fiercest champions, all of whom make highly anticipated company debuts: Marin Alsop, one of the great conductors of our time, who has led more than 200 new-music premieres; soprano Julia Bullock, a leading voice on and off stage; and pathbreaking bass-baritone Davóne Tines. Radiant mezzo-sopranos J’Nai Bridges and Daniela Mack take turns completing the principal trio. The moving, fully staged new production also marks the Met debut of Lileana Blain-Cruz, Resident Director at Lincoln Center Theater, who received universal acclaim for her Tony-nominated 2022 production of The Skin of Our Teeth.