Two Boys, or Not Two Boys? – The Met Cops Out

Paul Appleby and Andrew Pulver
Photo: Sara Krulwich/The New York Times

I keep reading that it’s the subject matter of Nico Muhly’s Two Boys that has kept it off the Met in HD playlist.

Met General Manager Peter Gelb said the adult themes ruled out the opera from inclusion in the company's high-definition theatre simulcasts.

Does the Met really think that the U.S. opera-going public is so narrow-minded, or close-minded, or unsophisticated (choose all that apply) to cope with this story? My guess is that they really just thought it wouldn’t sell. It may or may not, but will The Nose sell? Will hauling out the ancient La Boheme yet again sell? (Well, yes, probably. I guess that’s a bad example.)