The Met Opera's "Lincoln in the Bardo" To Be Livestreamed For Free This Saturday, November 14

The Metropolitan Opera will broadcast the final performance of Missy Mazzoli’s Lincoln in the Bardo for free on Saturday, November 14, at 8:00 PM on its YouTube channel, as reported by Playbill.

The production marks a historical milestone for the company as its first-ever premiered opera composed by a woman. Based on George Saunders’ novel, the work features a libretto by Royce Vavrek and follows Abraham Lincoln’s grief over the 1862 death of his son, Willie, from typhoid fever within the bardo—a transitional space between life and death.

The streaming event arrives after the initial run completely sold out its tickets. Artful said that audiences across regions, including home viewers in the Upper Valley, can access the production from their couches.

Lincoln in the Bardo LIVE from the Metropolitan Opera — Metropolitan Opera

“With the final performances of our run completely sold out, we decided to share Lincoln in the Bardo for free with our global audience,” said Met General Manager Peter Gelb. “Opera is being transformed by powerful new works like Lincoln in the Bardo, and we hope our efforts will be rewarded with donations to our Make the Met Forever fundraising campaign.”

Baritone Peter Mattei stars as Abraham Lincoln alongside a cast that includes soprano Christine Goerke as the Reverend, countertenor Anthony Roth Costanzo as Elise Traynor, tenor Jonah Hoskins as Bevins, bass-baritone Ryan McKinny as Vollman, soprano Janai Brugger as Mrs. Hodge, mezzo-soprano Stephanie Blythe as Mrs. Baron, baritone Craig Colclough as Mr. Baron, tenor Joshua Blue as Thomas Havens, and treble Everett Soberts making his Met debut as Willie Lincoln. Met Opera Music Director Yannick Nézet-Séguin conducts the orchestra.

The broadcast intermission features a 17-minute documentary titled The Making of Lincoln in the Bardo, produced by Dua Lipa’s cultural platform Service95, which highlights rehearsals and cast interviews. Following the live YouTube broadcast, the recording remains accessible through midnight ET on November 18. On November 20, the production transitions to the Met Opera on Demand subscription streaming service.

Worth a look