Louisa Proske is set to make her debut at the Metropolitan Opera with a new production of Verdi’s “Macbeth,” marking a significant milestone in the rising director’s career. The production is scheduled to open the Met’s 2026-27 season on Tuesday, featuring prominent singers including soprano Lise Davidsen and baritone Quinn Kelsey.

The opportunity came unexpectedly in October of last year, when Peter Gelb, the general manager of the Met, reached out to Proske with the offer. The original director, Bartlett Sher, was unable to continue due to scheduling conflicts with a Broadway musical. This left the company with just 11 months to prepare a new production, significantly shorter than the typical three to four years usually allotted for such projects.

Proske, 42, described the experience as both exhilarating and intense. “It was like, ‘The director has to assemble a team, and we kind of need the design yesterday,’” she said. Within a week of the call, Proske found herself heavily involved in daily design meetings, adapting quickly to the demands of staging a major production at one of the world’s foremost opera houses on short notice.

Despite the condensed timeline, the project has proceeded smoothly, leading the Met to commit fully to the production well before its opening night. “Just a week before, I had no idea I would direct at the Met and suddenly I was in design meetings every day,” Proske noted, reflecting on the rapid shift in her professional trajectory.

With a cast led by internationally acclaimed vocalists and a fresh creative vision, the new “Macbeth” is poised to be a highlight of the Met’s season. Proske’s successful navigation of such a tight schedule underscores her emerging stature in the opera world and underscores the company’s confidence in her artistry for high-profile engagements.