Dua Lipa Attends Met Opera Premiere of 'Lincoln in the Bardo'
Dua Lipa attended the Met Opera world premiere of 'Lincoln in the Bardo' on Oct. 19, her second opera outing in a month after La Scala's 'La Traviata' in September.
Programme
- Dua Lipa attended the world premiere of 'Lincoln in the Bardo' at the Metropolitan Opera on Oct. 19.
- It was her second opera outing in a month, after Teatro alla Scala's 'La Traviata' in September.
- In 2024 she interviewed George Saunders about the novel on her podcast Service95.
- Yannick Nézet-Séguin conducts a cast including Peter Mattei, Christine Goerke, Stephanie Blythe and Anthony Roth Costanzo.
By Tom Whitfield
Dua Lipa attended the world premiere of "Lincoln in the Bardo" at the Metropolitan Opera on Oct. 19 — her second opera outing in a single month.
The Grammy-winning pop star walked the red carpet at the Met for the new work by composer Missy Mazzoli and librettist Royce Vavrek. The appearance followed weeks of speculation. General Manager Peter Gelb had hinted that Dua Lipa was excited about attending the opening, though the house confirmed nothing until she arrived.
From Milan to Lincoln Center
The premiere caps a busy month for the singer at the opera house. In September she attended Teatro alla Scala's production of "La Traviata" — her first time inside the iconic Milan theater. Two major houses in two months is a pattern, though whether it signals anything beyond curiosity remains unsaid.
Her connection to "Lincoln in the Bardo" runs deeper than one evening. In 2024, Dua Lipa interviewed author George Saunders on her podcast Service95 about the novel. On that episode she raved about the book, saying she recommends every George Saunders book and calling herself a huge fan of his.
Who else was there
The premiere drew a notably non-operatic crowd. Among those joining Dua Lipa on the starry evening:
- Amy Poehler
- Bowen Yang
- Callum Turner
- Matt Rogers
What's on stage
"Lincoln in the Bardo" adapts Saunders's Booker Prize-winning novel, with music by American composer Missy Mazzoli and a libretto by Royce Vavrek. Yannick Nézet-Séguin conducts.
The cast includes:
- Baritone Peter Mattei
- Soprano Christine Goerke
- Mezzo-soprano Stephanie Blythe
- Countertenor Anthony Roth Costanzo
What does this change for the Met?
One celebrity appearance does not fill a season. But a pop star of Dua Lipa's reach promoting a new American opera to her audience — she documented the carpet entrance on Instagram — is the kind of visibility a new work rarely gets on its own. If she keeps returning, Gelb may have found his most visible recruit yet.
Original: instagram.com
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Market editor covering people, launches and day-to-day practice in arts in the broadest sense at Arts & Voices.
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