Celebrating Black History Month

Filmmaker Susan Froemke explores the history of the “new Met” at Lincoln Center, which opened in 1966 with soprano Leontyne Price headlining Barber’s Antony and Cleopatra. The fascinating documentary features interviews with many of the figures involved in the opera house’s creation, including a conversation with Price recorded on the eve of her 90th birthday. 

Soprano Kathleen Battle dazzles as Rosina, the feisty heroine of Rossini’s effervescent comedy. Alongside Battle, an ensemble of bel canto stars takes the stage in a spirited production by John Cox.

Our exhibition chronicling the extensive contributions made by African American artists at the Met and the decades-long struggle for racial equality at the nation's leading opera company—originally installed in the opera house in connection with the 2019 new production of Porgy and Bess—is now available in digital format.

Learn about the remarkable career of soprano Leontyne Price, who headlined more than 200 performances over the course of 25 years on the Met stage.

Celebrated soprano Kathleen Battle, who stars in this month’s stream of Rossini’s Il Barbiere di Siviglia, mesmerized Met audiences with the purity and beauty of her voice. Read about her history with the company.

Created as a companion to the Black Voices at the Met exhibition, this audio playlist features memorable Met performances by great Black singers through the years.

To coincide with the new staging of Porgy and Bess in 2019, the company paid tribute to generations of extraordinary Black artists with the album Black Voices Rise. This new playlist showcases even more stellar voices, with selections drawn from the last four decades of live Met performances.

Enjoy a collection of video highlights featuring great performances by African American artists in classic Met telecasts and Live in HD cinema transmissions.