12th “Let’s Explore Pleasure of Opera (LEPO)” Talk Event “Overview of the Metropolitan Opera’s 2026–2027 Season Lineup”
As is customary, we will be holding our annual “Let’s Explore Pleasure of Opera (LEPO) ~ Metropolitan Opera’s 2026-2027 Season Entire Program Explanation ~ Vol.12” on July 21st at the Nippon Club New Building (604 Fifth Avenue). The Metropolitan Opera’s 2026-2027 season will open on September 22nd with Verdi’s “Macbeth.” Two contemporary operas, along with Verdi’s “Macbeth,” Puccini’s “La Fancier de l’Olie” and Janáček’s “Janúfa” will be presented in new productions. In addition, 12 popular operas will be added to the repertoire. Furthermore, Mahler’s Symphony No. 8, with soloists and chorus, will be performed next spring. This season also marks the 60th anniversary of the MET’s relocation to its current location at Lincoln Center, making it a Diamond Celebration year. To commemorate this, a grand celebratory concert featuring all-star performers will be held on May 27th next year.
What kind of productions, creative teams, and casts will be featured this season? Join us on an exploration of the Metropolitan Opera House with Mr. Fred Plotokin, a passionate opera lover. We look forward to your enthusiastic participation!
Finally, we will announce the lineup and dates for next season’s “Let’s Explore Pleasure of Opera (LEPO)” study sessions and performances. Stay tuned!
Sumiko Ito,
Representative of the “Let’s Explore Pleasure of Opera (LEPO)” Founding Committee
【Date/Time】
Tuesday, July 21st
6:00 PM～8:00 PM（ET）
【Venue】
Nippon Club 3rd Floor Rose Hall
（145 West 57th Street, New York, NY 10019）
【Registration Fee】
Members $15 / Non-member $25 / Students $10
＊Light snacks and drinks included
（※Student ID required 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”
“Let’s Explore Pleasure of Opera (LEPO)” 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
