KASI LEMMONS

“Fire Shut Up in My Bones” became the first work by a Black composer in the 138-year history of the Metropolitan Opera as the company presented its first staged performance since March 2000 following a gap caused by the coronavirus.

"Fire," with a score by jazz trumpeter and composer Terence Blanchard, will be the first opera by a Black musician presented in the Met's 138 years.

The Met Opera’s season opens on Monday, and for the first time in its 138-year history it will perform an opera by a Black composer.

Met General Manager Peter Gelb said additional losses projected at $54 million raise the total for the company to $154 million since the pandemic started. “The earliest we thought we could schedule it was in the 23-24 season,” Gelb said. “Hamlet” stars Allan Clayton, Brenda Rae and Rod Gilfry in a Neil Armfield staging that opens May 13, 2022. Bart Sher’s staging of Verdi’s “Rigoletto,” which opened in Berlin in June 2019, starts Dec. 31, 2021, with Quinn Kelsey. A Simon Stone staging of Donizetti’s “Lucia di Lammermoor” begins April 23, 2022, with Nadine Sierra and Javier Camarena.

"Harriet" stars Cynthia Erivo as Harriet Tubman, the woman who escaped slavery and came to be known as the "Moses" of her people for leading others to freedom. This is part of the reason why she didn't make one with her latest project about the life of Harriet Tubman. "Harriet" (to be released Nov. 1) stars Cynthia Erivo as Tubman, the woman who escaped slavery and came to be known as the "Moses" of her people for leading others to freedom. "Her presence is very powerful for me," the director said, touching a necklace she wears with a medallion that honors Tubman. And what is Lemmons willing to die for?