Pop singer Dua Lipa attended the opening night of the New York Metropolitan Opera’s adaptation of George Saunders’s novel Lincoln in the Bardo on Tuesday, marking an unusual but strategic intersection of contemporary pop culture and high art. The 31-year-old Albanian-British artist appeared alongside her husband, actor Callum Turner, at the event, which drew a younger and more diverse audience than typical opera performances.
Lincoln in the Bardo, originally published in 2017, is an experimental novel set in a graveyard that explores the death of President Abraham Lincoln’s young son Willie through the voices of spectral inhabitants. The opera, composed by Missy Mazzoli, incorporates modern elements including a drag queen ghost and a gender-fluid vicar, aiming to appeal to contemporary audiences. It has received critical acclaim, earning four stars from a prominent British newspaper, and is also slated for a film adaptation.
Lipa’s attendance at the Met aligns with wider efforts by the opera house to broaden its appeal amid challenges filling its large auditorium. The appearance of other celebrities such as actress Maggie Gyllenhaal, musician Dev Hynes, and comedian Amy Poehler—individuals younger than the typical opera patron—reflects this push toward engaging a younger demographic.
The pop star’s presence at the traditionally elite cultural institution highlights her evolving artistic persona. Beyond music, Lipa has cultivated a reputation as a cultural figure with literary and intellectual interests. Earlier this year, she launched the Service95 Book Club, selecting works such as Douglas Stuart’s Shuggie Bain and Kazuo Ishiguro’s Klara and the Sun for discussion. Her social media channels regularly feature literary content, reflecting a commitment to promoting reading and culture among her millions of followers.
Lipa’s engagement with literature and the arts extends to recent activities, including interviewing dissident artist Ai Weiwei and psychedelic pioneer Amanda Feilding, as well as recommending books to her audience. This broad cultural involvement contributes to her image as a renaissance figure in the digital era, blending popular music stardom with intellectual pursuits.
Some observers speculate that inviting a high-profile pop star like Lipa to the Met may serve as a response to earlier criticisms of opera’s declining relevance, including actor Timothée Chalamet’s remarks questioning public interest in the art form. By embracing figures from popular culture, the Met appears intent on enhancing its visibility and redefining its audience base.
Meanwhile, Lipa’s expanding role as arts advocate now includes curating at the London Literature Festival, which launched recently at the Southbank Centre, underscoring her multifaceted engagement with the arts beyond music and performance.