In 1908, the father of the Azerbaijani classical music, Uzeir Hajibeyli composed the first national opera based on folklore, Leyli and Mejnun, and thus paved a way for unprecedented advancement of the genre not only in the country but the entire Middle East. Especially, considering that the first national opera and opera house in Azerbaijan was produced and built only in the early twentieth century, while the first European public opera house Teatro di San Cassiano opened its doors to viewers in 1637, in Venice. However, the nationality factor of these two leading voices is compelling for Azerbaijan and its music history, opera in particular.

Examples include the brilliant Swedish soprano Christina Nilsson, the Polish coloratura soprano Marcella Sembrich, the prominent Italian tenor Roberto Stagno and many others who sang during the Met inaugural season in 1883-1884. After all, the Metropolitan Opera has always been known for embracing the best of the best from its start. Surely, the nationality of the actors does not have any impact on the Met opera productions nor is the quality of the singing determined by it.

Metropolitan opera schedule 2018