Met Opera: John Adams's 'Antony & Cleopatra'
$33-$420
- Julia Bullock, soprano (Cleopatra)
- Gerald Finley, bass-baritone (Antony)
- Paul Appleby, tenor (Caesar)
- Elizabeth DeShong, mezzo-soprano (Octavia)
- Taylor Raven, mezzo-soprano (Charmian)
- Brenton Ryan, tenor (Eros)
- Alfred Walker, bass-baritone (Enobarbus)
- John Adams, conductor
The most recent opera by preeminent American composer John Adams—a glorious adaptation of Shakespeare's immortal drama—has its Met premiere. Following her debut in the company premiere of Adams's El Niño in 2024, soprano Julia Bullock stars as the irresistible Cleopatra, one of theater's most complex and captivating characters, opposite bass-baritone Gerald Finley as the conflicted Antony. Adams himself takes the podium to conduct his lyrical and richly orchestrated score, leading a new staging by groundbreaking director Elkhanah Pulitzer that transports the story of troubled romance and political strife from ancient Rome to the Golden Age of Hollywood in the 1930s. Tenor Paul Appleby is Caesar, who goes to war with Antony, and mezzo-soprano Elizabeth DeShong is Caesar's sister and Antony's forsaken wife Octavia.
Runs May 12-June 7.
About Julia Bullock, soprano (Cleopatra)
About Gerald Finley, bass-baritone (Antony)
About Paul Appleby, tenor (Caesar)
Admired for his interpretive depth, vocal strength, and range of expressivity, tenor Paul Appleby is one of the most sought-after voices of his generation. Mr. Appleby continues to grace the stages of the world’s most distinguished concert halls and opera houses while collaborating with leading orchestras, instrumentalists, and conductors. Opera News claims, "[Paul’s] tenor is limpid and focused, but with a range of color unusual in an instrument so essentially lyric... His singing is scrupulous and musical; the voice moves fluidly and accurately."
http://paulapplebytenor.com/About Elizabeth DeShong, mezzo-soprano (Octavia)
About Taylor Raven, mezzo-soprano (Charmian)
About Brenton Ryan, tenor (Eros)
About Alfred Walker, bass-baritone (Enobarbus)
About John Adams, conductor
Composer, conductor, and creative thinker—John Adams occupies a unique position in the world of music. His works stand out among contemporary classical compositions for their depth of expression, brilliance of sound, and the profoundly humanist nature of their themes. His operas and oratorios such as Nixon in China, Doctor Atomic, and El Niño have transformed the genre of contemporary music theater. Spanning more than three decades, works such as Harmonielehre, Shaker Loops, The Dharma at Big Sur, and his Violin Concerto are among the most performed of all contemporary classical music.
https://www.earbox.com/