Welcome to the Met Chorus Artists website, managed by members of the Metropolitan Opera Chorus! You’ll find articles, photos, roster information, and other delightful sundries here. We’re pretty stoked that you stopped by!
Times are tough right now, particularly for performing artists whose livelihoods have been greatly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic in the form of theater closures and travel restrictions. Where can they turn for help? The AGMA Relief Fund is one of many invaluable organizations on the front lines, assisting performers in need.
Met Chorus Soprano Abigail Mitchell was a guest contributor to the newsletter back in 2018, giving us an illuminating (and amusing) picture of what it's like to work for the Met Opera for the first time as an extra chorister (spoiler: it involves getting lost in the building. A lot.). Now a beloved full-time chorus member, she gives us an equally illuminating take on what it's like to balance a new baby with the Met Chorus's often heroic schedule.
In this edition of Meet The Dancers, we introduce you to Michelle Vargo, a talented dancer who has been an important part of the Metropolitan Opera's productions for the past 22 years. "I never imagined I'd have such a long career here", Vargo said. But we're so glad she has!
Yes, we realize that this looks, rather disturbingly, like a kitty litter box that desperately needs a spring cleaning. But would you believe us if we said that all of the ingredients in Mary Hughes' Kitty Litter Cake were not only edible, but actually delicious?
When an opportunity presents itself to sing for charity, the Met Chorus Artists have always been ready and willing to use our talents for the common good.
Carolyn Sielski was a member of the Met Chorus for 21 years, but that didn't stop her from staying connected to her beloved former colleagues after she retired.
The Met Opera Chorus is deeply saddened by the news of the cancellation of the remainder of the 2019-2020 Metropolitan Opera season. You can read our statement here.
Hector Berlioz called La Damnation de Faust a "dramatic legend,”", not an opera or an oratorio. However you define it, the piece is a tour-de-force for the chorus. Tenor Daniel Clark Smith gives us an idea of how we express the text and story line without sets or costumes.
Ned Hanlon. The man, the myth, the mystery. A Met Chorus bass-baritone and our beloved Chorus Committee Chair, you'd think he had enough on his proverbial plate, but recently he had his sights set on winning the Met's annual Bake-Off competition. Ned planned to win the judges panel over with his savory Chicken, Pesto, Sun-Dried Tomato and Feta Pie (shaped like a viking helmet, because opera), and he loved his idea so much, he's sharing the recipe with us!
In the spirit of the holidays, we are paying homage to a fabulous foursome of Metropolitan Opera Chorus retirees who, between the four of them, experienced a combined 129 seasons at the Met and four different chorusmasters! Chorister Brandon Mayberry had a lot of fun looking back on their experiences. Let's see what they're up to post-retirement!
Holiday season got you down? We have some fantastic productions to get you through the end-of-year madness, as well as some delicious adult beverages to go along with the operatic themes!
In our inaugural “Meet the Dancers” column, we’re getting to know Sarah Weber Gallo, who has been elevating the operatic art form with her gorgeous dancing at the Metropolitan Opera for 21 years. We’ll focus on what it’s like to be a professional dancer both on and off the Met stage.
The Met Artist Newsletter is here to answer your burning operatic questions, both the ones you’ve been pondering and the ones you never thought needed answering…!
This June, New York City hosted the World Pride celebration, which coincided with the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots in the West Village. And, for the first time, over 100 employees representing the Metropolitan Opera fashioned a gold-gilded float and marched in the Pride Parade in support of equality, inclusivity, and love. It was a truly unforgettable experience!
Soprano Jamet Pittman makes her Met chorus debut in Porgy and Bess this year, along with dozens of her talented colleagues. She gives us a small taste of what everyone was thinking during their first week on the job. (Spoiler alert: everyone was pretty excited about being here. I mean, can you blame them? We’re excited about it, too!)
When AGMA president Ray Menard isn’t working as a fiendishly busy Production Stage Manager at the Metropolitan Opera (or, you know, dealing with never-ending AGMA business), he’s in his kitchen cooking up tasty treats. See what the talented renaissance man has up his sleeve in this issue’s Recipe Corner!
Soprano April Haines gives us a taste of her pre-Met chorus history, which includes numerous Porgys around the world and invaluable time studying voice with the talented baritone who premiered the role, Todd Duncan.
So what does a Met Opera Chorister do when the Met isn’t in season? Let’s take a look at how three choristers spent their summers away from New York.
Well, we all blinked, and another incredible season somehow passed us by. But what a season it was!
Meet two married members of the Metropolitan Opera Chorus, Christina and Brian Anderson, who give us an enlightening glimpse of what it’s like to raise a family while working one of the most difficult jobs in the opera business!
