Talk Event “Let’s Explore the Pleasure of Opera! Metropolitan Opera’s 2025-26 Season”
A talk event, the 11th “Let’s Explore the Pleasure of Opera!” ~Metropolitan Opera’s 2025-26 Season Full Program Explanation ~ will be held on Thursday, September 4 at 6:00 pm. The MET Opera 2025-26 Season will kick off on September 21 with the contemporary opera “The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay” This season, including this opera, there are six new productions, three of which are Met premieres. What kind of operas are they? What does it mean to have new productions? In addition, 12 operas will be on stage almost every night except for February until June 6th next year. If you know in advance what to see and listen to, as well as notable singers, conductors, and directors for each opera, you will enjoy the operas even more.
Fred Plotkin, one of America’s foremost experts on opera, a self-proclaimed “Opera Explorer” and a huge opera lover, will answer these questions above. The talk will be held in English in the form of a dialogue with Sumiko Ito, representative of the “Let’s Explore the Pleasure of Opera!” Founding Committee. The talk between the two will cover all the operas being performed this season at the MET Opera. He will also share tips for opera novices on how to enjoy opera even more. Don’t miss it!
In the second part, each member of the “Let’s Explore the Pleasure of Opera!” committee will introduce their “Favorite Operas” in the 2025-26 season that you definitely don’t want to miss. Details about the event are as follows. We look forward to your participation.
Sumiko Ito,
Representative of the “Let’s Explore the Pleasure of Opera!” Founding Committee
【Date/Time】
Thursday, September 4
6:00 PM～8:00 PM（ET）
【Venue】
Rose Room, 2nd Floor of the Nippon Club
（145 West 57th Street, New York, NY 10019）
【Registration Fee】
Members $15 / Non-member $25 / Students $10
*Light snacks and drinks included
（※Student ID must be presented on the day of the event.）
【Program】
Part 1
Talk Session: Commentary on the Met’s Next Season’s Complete Program
Fred Plotkin and Sumiko Ito
Part 2
“My Favorite Opera”
“Explore the Joy of Opera!” Founding Committee Members
Sumiko Ito, Yoko Ojima, Masaharu Masuyama, Keiko Matsuzaki, Takashi Ikezawa
Profile
Fred Plotkin
One of America’s most prominent opera commentators. He has a wide range of activities such as commentary on radio and television, lectures at opera houses such as the Met, museums, and blogs. He holds the “Adventures of Italian Opera” course at New York University and offers interviews with famous opera singers and conductors. His writings include the best-selling “Opera 101: A Complete Guide to Learning and Enjoying Opera” and “Classical Music 101: A Complete Guide to Learning and Enjoying Classical Music”. Lives in New York. Each week since April 2020 he has hosted “Fred Plotkin on Fridays” on IDAGIO and YouTube.
Sumiko Ito
Resides in New York. After working as a national government employee of the Japanese government and an investment banker, became a business strategy consultant for a company. She has served on the board of art foundations in Japan and the United States, and is currently a board member of the Kronos Quartet Performing Arts (San Francisco). After learning about Jonas Kaufmann, she has become an opera enthusiast and frequently travels to opera houses around the world. She translated and published “Jonas Kaufmann: Tenor” in November 2016.
【Contact】info@nipponclub.org
