Julia Bullock returns to the Metropolitan Opera this evening singing the lead in the company premiere of John Adams’ Antony and Cleopatra, conducted by the composer. Her appearance follows her 2024 debut in the Met premiere of Adams’s El Niño under the baton of Marin Alsop.

Adams wrote the role of Cleopatra specifically for Julia, which she sang for her debut at the Grand Teatre del Liceu for the European premiere of the work in 2023. Her long-time collaboration with Adams has seen her create the role of Dame Shirley in his opera Girls of the Golden West, and in 2018, she sang the role of Kitty Oppenheimer on the Grammy-nominated recording of his opera Doctor Atomic, also conducted by Adams. An aria from El Niño featured on her 2022 debut solo album Walking in the Dark which earned a Grammy award for Best Classical Solo Vocal Album, as well as an Opus Klassik Award for Young Talent of the Year.

Next season sees Julia return to the Royal Opera to sing Pamina in The Magic Flute. She also creates the role of the Scientist in the world premiere of Michel van der Aa’s film opera Theory of Flames at Dutch National Opera.