The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay
The Metropolitan Opera
Lincoln Center, NYC
September 21-October 11, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Mega Donors Go MAGA at Met Opera Gala”
What opera begins with an impromptu audience sing-along to the expert orchestra’s instrumental of The Star-Spangled Banner? Apparently, the season opener for the Metropolitan Opera: The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay, adapted from Michael Chabon’s Pulitzer-prize winning novel (2000). The sold-out evening had the fashion glitterati in full effect, plus some appearing to come straight out of comic-con.
After the effusion of pre-curtain patriotism, much to my surprise, General Manager Peter Gelb’s opening remarks were met with uncharacteristic heckling from the Family Circle.
He then introduces NY Senator Chuck Schumer, who is also met with a round of boos as he takes the stage for a last-minute season headlining address:
“The arts are under attack now. Even worse than during Covid. You saw what happened during Jimmy Kimmel.”
“You suck. Don’t make it political,” interject hecklers from the rafters.
“To the land of the brave and the home of the free,” he calls out and exits.
Is it Prague 1939 or Anytown, USA 2025?
The set opens to an amazing blending of life and art with interactive comic book graphics projected onto multiple screen overlays. The orchestra has the jaunty pep of 1930s jazz and the early Batman (1960) live-action TV serial soundtrack.
The story tells of Joe Kavalier’s escape from Nazi-occupied Prague to NYC where our protagonist finds his relatives and his talent for comic book illustration. The libretto is less singing more spoken word as the inspired cousins brainstorm at the toy company, “They’re not reaching for a dime. They’re reaching for a dream.”
By the end of Act I, it’s a gay love story set amidst the Holocaust. Perhaps sometimes art can’t help but be political. Can’t wait to read the novel and hear what happened at the after party.
