On the spring-like eve of April 10, those bedecked in gowns, tuxedos and other finery gathered at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York to see history in the making: the opening night of New Orleans native Terence Blanchard’s “Champion.” 

The opera, which was conducted by Yannick Nézet-Séguin, is about real-life boxer Emile Griffith, who rose from obscurity to become world champion and tragically killed his homophobic archrival in the ring.

This is Grammy-award winning Blanchard’s second opera at the Met; “Fire Shut Up in My Bones,” which debuted Sept. 27, 2021, was the first opera by a black composer performed at the Met and was the highest grossing opera to have opened there. (It will be making a return appearance at the Met in April and May 2024.)

In addition to Blanchard and his wife Robin Burgess, other VIPs and celebrities at opening included Angela Bassett and Courtney B. Vance, Phylicia Rashad, Al Roker and Deborah Roberts, Spike Lee, Queen Latifah (who brought a coterie of seven friends), Kasi Lemmons (film director and librettist for “Fire Shut Up in My Bones”), Sheila Johnson, Ravi Coltrane (son of John Coltrane), Michael Cristofer (who wrote the libretto), U.S. Assistant Attorney General Kenneth Polite, Dale Mott, Judge Sidney Cates IV and Judge Monique Morial.

After the opera was a gala dinner, kicked off with a champagne toast by Met General Manager Peter Gelb.

The opera is part of “See Me As I Am: Lincoln Center’s Year-Long Celebration of Terence Blanchard” that launched in March and is its first cross-campus exploration of a single artist. (Other center arts organizations include Jazz at Lincoln Center, the Juilliard School.)

Fun Fact

  Blanchard was just named a 2024 Jazz Master by the National Endowment of the Arts.

Terence Blanchard’s “Champion” Debuts at the Met
Shannon Finney/Met Opera
Terence Blanchard, Robin Burgess, Angela Bassett, Courtney B. Vance
Terence Blanchard’s “Champion” Debuts at the Met
Jenny Gorman/Met Opera
Sheila Johnson, Deborah Roberts, Al Roker
Terence Blanchard’s “Champion” Debuts at the Met
Jenny Gorman/Met Opera
 C. Graham Berwind III, Peter Gelb
Terence Blanchard’s “Champion” Debuts at the Met
Laura Tennyson photo
Rhesa McDonald, Alden McDonald, Gina Monette, Laura Tennyson
Terence Blanchard’s “Champion” Debuts at the Met
Laura Tennyson photo
Sandy Leonard, Judge Monique Morial, Ava Cates, Judge Sidney Cates
Terence Blanchard’s “Champion” Debuts at the Met
Shannon Finney/Met Opera
Terence Blanchard Jr., Olivia Blanchard, Sidney Blanchard