The Most New Works in Met Opera’s Modern History

In an effort to usher in younger and more diverse audiences, the Metropolitan Opera is focusing on new and recent works. The 2023-24 season opened on September 26 with Jake Heggie’s Dead Man Walking. Considered a masterpiece, the 20-year-old opera just made its Met premiere and runs through October 21. Three more Met premieres will grace the stage this season, including Anthony Davis’s X: The Life and Times of Malcolm X (November 3 - December 2); Daniel Catán’s Florencia en el Amazonas (November 16 - December 14), the Company’s first opera in Spanish in nearly a century; and John Adams’s El Niño (April 23 – May 17). A third of this season’s operas consists of recent works like Terence Blanchard’s Fire Shut Up in My Bones (April 8 – May 2) and Kevin Puts’s The Hours (May 5 – May 31), two hits from the past few years.

For fans of classic operas, there are plenty in the lineup, including four of Giacomo Puccini’s works. La Bohème, the most produced opera in Met history, will return for 18 performances (October 10 – January 13), as well as Puccini’s Madama Butterfly (January 11- May 11), Turandot (February 28 – June 7), and La Rondine (March 26 – April 20).

This will also be the last season that Chorus Master Donald Palumbo will lead the Met Chorus. After 17 years, Palumbo will step down from his full-time role in June and will only work with the Met on select operas in the future. The Met Chorus was awarded Best Chorus in the World at the International Opera Awards in 2021 under his tutelage, demonstrating the significance of his leadership.

Visit the Met Opera’s website to learn more about the 2023-24 season, buy tickets, or explore subscriptions and special offers.

Photo Credit: The Metropolitan Opera, Jake Heggie’s Dead Man Walking