I’m so grateful to everyone who came out for Opening Night of The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay. It was pure joy to finally share this piece with you, and so moving to hear the reactions and read the reviews:
“Kavalier & Clay is its top-performing opera at the box office so far this season. Ticket sales for the opening night were the Met’s highest this decade.”
– The Economist
“The Met is back with a bang … Bates’s vocal writing allows his singers plenty of opportunities to shine, with long soaring lines.”
– The Times
“An absolute knockout …a highly entertaining evening… Bates keeps the narrative moving swiftly, and his transitions from scene to scene are admirably deft, especially given how frequently the setting shifts… His music is unabashedly tonal, colourfully orchestrated, and he employs electronic sounds with precision and restraint.”
– The Financial Times
“This has blockbuster appeal … it takes advantage of the grand opera format and puts the more filmic qualities of Bates’s writing to perfect use.”
– The Observer
“This was arguably the most successful opening night the company has had since the pandemic … Full of poetic gestures, and moments that truly sear into your heart and mind.”
– OperaWire
“Bates’s score with its mix of electronics and acoustic instruments is engrossing and carries real emotional weight. … his use of electronica adds layers of texture and color to the score and makes the comic-book scenes pop with excitement.”
– Seen and Heard International
