The Opera Built From Pyramids, Old Hollywood, and Beyoncé
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On May 12, 2025, the Metropolitan Opera in New York unveiled a spectacle that feels like a collision of eras: John Adams’s Antony and Cleopatra, an opera inspired by pyramids and Beyoncé that weaves ancient Egyptian grandeur, 1930s Hollywood glamour, and the magnetic aura of a modern pop icon into Shakespeare’s timeless tragedy. The stage pulses with moving walls evoking Egypt’s Red Pyramid, costumes that shimmer like Old Hollywood starlets, and a Cleopatra who commands her image with the savvy of Beyoncé herself. This production doesn’t just retell a story—it redefines opera for a new generation, inviting audiences to see love, power, and fame through a kaleidoscope of cultural lenses.
A Vision Rooted in History and Stardom
At its core, Antony and Cleopatra is a tale of passion and betrayal, following Roman general Mark Antony and Egyptian queen Cleopatra as their love unravels empires. Composer John Adams, known for operas like Nixon in China, crafts a lush, lyrical score that amplifies the emotional stakes, while director Elkhanah Pulitzer transports the story to the Golden Age of Hollywood. The result is a production that feels both epic and intimate, ancient yet urgently modern.
The set design is a marvel, inspired by the vaulted ceiling of Egypt’s Red Pyramid. Steeply angled walls shift throughout the performance, mirroring the characters’ precarious power struggles. This nod to ancient architecture grounds the opera in Cleopatra’s world, while also serving as a canvas for the story’s larger-than-life emotions.
Old Hollywood’s influence is unmistakable. Pulitzer draws from cinematic touchstones like Cecil B. DeMille’s 1934 Cleopatra with Claudette Colbert and Busby Berkeley’s extravagant musicals, such as 1934’s Dames. The Metropolitan Opera’s golden curtain, rarely used in modern productions, frames the performance like a Hollywood premiere, and Cleopatra’s scenes evoke the opulence of a 1930s movie palace. Costumes inspired by Ancient Egyptian deities and royalty—think Cleopatra as the goddess Isis or Antony in a tunic reminiscent of Tutankhamen’s tomb—blend seamlessly with Art Deco flair, creating a visual feast.
But it’s the Beyoncé cultural impact that adds a contemporary edge. Cleopatra is portrayed as a media-savvy queen, controlling her image much like Beyoncé does through carefully curated appearances, from red-carpet moments to her radiant Grammy Awards performance after announcing a pregnancy. Scenes with paparazzi and spotlights underscore this parallel, positioning Cleopatra as a figure who wields power through perception, a feminist statement that resonates in today’s Instagram and TikTok-driven world.
Power, Betrayal, and Socio-Political Echoes
While Antony and Cleopatra isn’t explicitly a crime-themed performance art piece, its themes of power, betrayal, and political intrigue carry a dramatic weight akin to a high-stakes thriller. The opera explores abuses of power—Antony’s neglect of Rome for Cleopatra’s allure, Caesar’s ruthless ambition—that mirror socio-political tensions in both ancient and modern contexts. Pulitzer’s Hollywood setting amplifies this, framing the characters as players in a world where image is power, and betrayal is a public spectacle.
This production subtly critiques the performative nature of leadership, drawing parallels to how modern celebrities and politicians craft their personas. Cleopatra’s agency, emphasized through her Beyoncé-inspired portrayal, challenges the historical narrative of her as merely a seductress, offering a feminist reimagining that speaks to American audiences grappling with questions of power and representation.
The Creative Forces Behind the Opera
The production’s brilliance stems from its stellar creative team. John Adams, often hailed as America’s greatest living composer, conducts the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, ensuring his richly orchestrated score resonates with emotional depth. His adaptation, with a libretto drawn from Shakespeare and classical texts like Plutarch and Virgil, balances poetic grandeur with human vulnerability.
Director Elkhanah Pulitzer, making her Met debut, brings a visionary approach, blending historical reverence with pop-culture flair. Her previous work with Adams, including the 2022 San Francisco Opera premiere of this production, showcases her knack for bold, interdisciplinary storytelling. Set designer Mimi Lien, costume designer Constance Hoffman, and lighting designer David Finn create a cohesive aesthetic that bridges ancient Egypt and Hollywood’s golden era, while choreographer Annie-B Parson adds dynamic movement that enhances the opera’s cinematic feel.
The cast is equally compelling. Soprano Julia Bullock, fresh off her acclaimed Met debut in Adams’s El Niño in 2024, embodies Cleopatra with a commanding presence and vocal finesse. Bass-baritone Gerald Finley, a Met veteran who starred in Adams’s Doctor Atomic, brings gravitas to Antony’s conflicted loyalties. Tenor Paul Appleby as Caesar and mezzo-soprano Elizabeth DeShong as Octavia, Antony’s forsaken wife, round out a powerhouse ensemble, supported by a chorus and dancers who amplify the production’s spectacle.
| Role | Performer | Notable Previous Work |
|---|---|---|
| Cleopatra | Julia Bullock | El Niño (Met, 2024) |
| Antony | Gerald Finley | Doctor Atomic (Met, 2008) |
| Caesar | Paul Appleby | Various Met roles |
| Octavia | Elizabeth DeShong | Various Met roles |
Audience Buzz and Critical Anticipation
As the opera opened on May 12, 2025, reviews are still forthcoming, but the production is already a cultural talking point. Being Adams’s fifth opera at the Met—a rare honor shared only with Richard Strauss—it carries high expectations. Previews, such as those from NPR, highlight its innovative staging and stellar cast, predicting it will captivate both opera purists and newcomers. On X, posts with hashtags like #AntonyAndCleopatra and #MetOpera are buzzing, with fans praising the fusion of Beyoncé’s influence and Hollywood glamour as a fresh take on a classic.
The production’s accessibility—sung in English with Met Titles in English, German, and Spanish—makes it inviting for diverse audiences. Its three-hour runtime, including a 30-minute intermission, ensures an immersive yet approachable experience. Early buzz suggests it could redefine how opera engages with pop culture, with some calling it a “game-changer” for the art form.
A Mirror to American Culture
This modern opera reflects America’s evolving cultural landscape, where high art and pop culture increasingly intersect. By drawing on Hollywood influence in opera and Beyoncé's cultural impact, it taps into the American fascination with fame, power, and self-presentation. Cleopatra’s portrayal as a Beyoncé-like figure resonates with audiences familiar with celebrity culture, while the Hollywood setting evokes nostalgia for a bygone era of glamour, making the opera both timely and timeless.
The production also engages with broader cultural conversations about agency and representation. Cleopatra’s control over her image challenges traditional narratives, aligning with feminist movements that seek to amplify women’s voices. For American audiences, this resonates in a society where media, politics, and identity are constantly negotiated.
Looking Ahead: A New Era for Opera?
Antony and Cleopatra is more than a performance—it’s a cultural moment that could shape the future of opera. Its bold fusion of ancient history, cinematic legacy, and modern celebrity culture suggests that opera can remain vibrant by embracing diverse influences. As audiences experience this experimental stage production through June 7, 2025, they’ll witness a story that transcends time, inviting reflection on love, power, and the art of crafting one’s legacy.
Whether you’re drawn to the majesty of pyramids, the allure of Old Hollywood, or the star power of Beyoncé, this opera offers a singular experience. Book your tickets at the Metropolitan Opera website and step into a world where history and modernity collide.
Performance Schedule
- May 12, 15, 20, 24, 30, June 3, 7, 2025
- Run time: Approximately 3 hours, 25 minutes
- Sung in English with Met Titles in English, German, and Spanish
Why It Matters
- Bridges high art and pop culture, making opera accessible to new audiences.
- Reimagines Cleopatra as a feminist icon with agency, inspired by Beyoncé.
- Showcases the Met’s commitment to innovative, boundary-pushing productions.
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