u/Bigo-Ted

For a long time, the Metropolitan Opera in New York was the best opera house in the world. However, I think it has changed in recent years during the leadership of Peter Gelb.

Even though they produce lavish, new productions - there is rare moments where Met reaches top, peak levels (like Tristan with Lise Davidsen and Michael Spyres). The number of stars that appears regulary now is Sondra Radvavonsky, Asmik Grigorian, Peter Mattei, Elina Garanca, Piotr Beczala, Roberto Alagna and Michael Fabiano. But many operas today lacks star appeal.

Many stars like Jonas Kaufmann, Bryn Terfel, Ludovic Tezier, Juan Diego Florez, Malin Byström, Jonathan Tetelman etc are unfortunately completely absent. (It’s even worse when you look at conductors, where the best conductors remain in Europe) The Met wasn’t the best house for Strauss and Wagner 10 years ago - but it was leading when it came to Italian bel canto opera. Now there is a lot less bel canto opera and instead lavish new productions of standard works in the repertoire.

Which house is the best opera house in the world right now? I think Wiener Staatsoper or Bayerische Staatsoper seems to have the most exciting casts of all opera houses.

RIP Ileana Cotrubas (1939-2026) “A great Traviata has died”

Bryn Terfel sings “Son Lo Spirito Che Nega” from Boito’s Mefistofele (Zürich 2018)

Roberto Alagna sings Je crois entendre encore from Bizet’s Les pecheurs de perles (Versailles 2009)

Great basso Günther Groissböck sings Heinrich’s act III scene from “Lohengrin” (with Klaus Florian Vogt, Barcelona, 2025)

The great Sonya Yoncheva sings “Vissi d'arte” Tosca (Arena di Verona 2023)

Great soprano Malin Byström sings “Song of the Moon” from Dvorak’s Rusalka (Bergen 2023)

Great duo - Sherrill Milnes & Plácido Domingo sings “Enzo Grimaldo principe di Santafior!” From La Gioconda - New York, 1983

The great José Cura sings "Arrêtez, ô mes frères!" From Samson Et Dalila (Marinsky, 2018)

Karan Armstrong & Siegfried Jerusalem sings “Glück das mir verblieb” from Die Tote Stadt (Berlin 1986)

Eminent baritone Peter Mattei sings “Largo al factotum” from Il barbiere di Siviglia

Lise Davidsen sings Lisa's Aria" from "Queen of Spades" by Tchaikovsky – Prague 2020

Great soprano Sonya Yoncheva sings ”Casta diva" from Norma (Berlin 2026)

Asmik Grigorian & Jonas Kaufmann sings ”In questa reggia” from Turandot (Wiener Staatsoper)

Great verismo singing! Michael Fabiano & Saioa Hernández sings ”Vicino a te” from Andrea Chenier (Bilbao, 2026)

The great Sondra Radvanovsky sings 'In questa reggia' from Turandot (London, 2026)

Diana Damrau and Jonas Kaufmann sings ”Clock Duet” from Die Fledermaus (2025)

Elīna Garanča withdraws from Salzburg Festival’s Ariadne auf Naxos

Which opera house is the best in the world right now?

Great tenor Michael Spyres sings Una furtiva lagrima from L'elisir d'amore (2022)

The great Jonas Kaufmann sings ”Niun mi tema" from Verdi’s Otello (Vienna 2024)