5 Ballets and Operas to Look Out For This Year as Timothée Chalamet Sparks a New Interest in the Arts

According to Timothée Chalamet, “no one cares about [ballet and opera] anymore.” No shade to him, but this is entirely untrue. While ballet and opera aren’t as mainstream as they once were, they’re still very relevant, especially culturally. They’ve shifted from being “default” entertainment to more niche, intentional experiences.

Here are five ballets and operas to look out for that prove that people still care about these art forms.

1. Ballet: ‘Swan Lake’

“Swan Lake” is such a timeless, classic ballet. It’s easy to follow, the visuals are breathtaking, and it has been a global phenomenon for almost a century. The dual main roles of Odette and Odile are among the industry’s most compelling and difficult to portray. The role’s blend of emotion and technicality evokes a unique emotional response in this ballet. Tchaikovsky’s iconic score, combined with the visuals, makes “Swan Lake” impossible to remain unmoved by.

2. Opera: ‘Macbeth’

Unlike some operas that build slowly, this one drops you straight into tension and just keeps escalating. “Macbeth” as an opera is not just a retelling of William Shakespeare’s famous play. The opera, directed by Giuseppe Verdi, leans more into the psychological tension within the original play. It centers around Lady Macbeth and takes her character into a more eerie, unsettling direction. A lot of recent productions stage it in more modern or abstract ways, playing up politics, power and corruption in ways that feel uncannily current. It ends up feeling less like a classic opera and more like something happening right now.

3. Ballet: ‘Giselle’

“Giselle” is an insane whirlwind of emotions mixed with an exploration of the supernatural. It follows Giselle, a young village girl, in her relationship with a man who is secretly a nobleman engaged to someone else. The ballet starts off joyful and romantic, but quickly devolves into betrayal when she finds out about his infidelity and basically dies of heartbreak. That’s just Act I, though. Act II is where things get interesting. Following her death, Giselle becomes one of the Wills—spirits of women who were betrayed before their weddings and now haunt the forest, forcing men to dance to death. Relatable AF, sign me up! The role of Giselle is one of the most emotionally compelling performances in the entirety of ballet.

4. Opera: ‘La bohème’

“La bohème” is one of the most performed operas worldwide for its melodic richness and poignant portrayal of youthful love and loss. It centers on the poet Rodolfo and seamstress Mimì, whose passionate romance is cut short by Mimì’s illness. It also still works now because the themes are so universal: being broke, chasing creative dreams, falling in love at the wrong time. This renowned opera has been adapted into multiple modern adaptations, including the Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning musical “Rent.” If you want an opera that actually makes you feel something without being overwhelming, this is a really solid place to start.

5. Ballet: ‘Don Quixote’

Ludwig Minkus’ “Don Quixote” is the epitome of fun when it comes to ballet. It’s high-energy, joyful and focuses on witty romance over heavy drama. It features some of the most technically difficult dance feats, creating an athletic spectacle throughout the performance. The ballet is full of life, featuring Spanish-themed dances like the fandango and flamenco-influenced movements. Visually, it’s also just a lot more vibrant than most people expect from ballet. The strong Spanish influence throughout—fans, sharp footwork and bold movements—gives the whole production a different feel compared to more ethereal ballets. This is basically the closest that ballet gets to a rom-com, but with more impressive footwork. If you’re not trying to sit through something tragic or heavy, this is the ballet for you. It’s entertaining, easy to follow and just genuinely fun to watch.

So, no, Mr. Chalamet, ballet and opera are not dead and people certainly still enjoy watching them. Performances are ever evolving, and the relevance of some of these productions is evergreen. Ballet and opera just aren’t trying to be for everyone anymore, and that’s kind of the point. If you actually give them a chance, though, there’s so much range—from dramatic and unsettling to fun and easy to watch. They’re not outdated, they’re just evolving, and clearly not going anywhere anytime soon.

Featured image credit: Cincinnati Ballet