As medici.tv’s Chief Content Officer I spend a lot of time thinking about classical music—and a lot of time on the internet. Here’s my selection of the top four news items you need to see this week if you want to stay in the know.
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Timothée Chalamet comments about opera and ballet spark international uproar
If you’re reading this, you’ve certainly already seen the Timothée Chalamet interview that angered opera and ballet fans around the world this week. Currently on a press tour for his latest film project, Chalamet off-handedly asserted that “no one cares” about opera and ballet, and that he was glad to not work in an industry that one needs to “keep alive.” The classical world clapped back on social media—medici.tv included!
The Boston Symphony Orchestra ends Andris Nelson’s tenure (Boston Classical Review)
The Boston Symphony Orchestra announced that it will part ways with music director Andris Nelsons after the 2026–27 season, ending a tenure that began in 2014. The orchestra’s board declined to renew his contract, citing a lack of alignment on the institution’s future vision—an unusually blunt explanation in the orchestral world. Nelsons, who first appeared with the orchestra in 2011 and helped lead it to multiple Grammy-winning recordings, said the decision was not related to artistic standards and pledged to continue supporting the ensemble through the end of his tenure. The musicians of the orchestra were apparently not informed of the decision before the announcement and published a clear statement on social media in support of Nelsons: “The musicians believe in Andris’s vision for the future.”
What is happening with The Met’s finances? (NYT)
In recent months, The New York Times has followed The Met’s ongoing financial woes and attempts to secure funding through new partnerships and sponsorships, dipping into their endowment, laying off dozens of staff members, and more. This week, the paper published a long-form look at what exactly is happening at America’s flagship opera company, and what the crisis tells us about the industry more broadly.
Opera meets Ikea (The Guardian)
During a performance of Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro, audience members followed singers through a working Ikea store, transforming the showroom into an immersive theatrical space—one of several opera performances in non-traditional venues at this year’s Perth Festival. This week, The Guardian explored this relatively recent industry trend of opera in unusual places, placing it in the wider context of a “deeper existential crisis” for the genre.
My favorite example on medici.tv is this fun La Scala production of Donizetti’s L’Elisir d’amore, not in the storied opera house, but at Milan’s Malpensa Airport.
