The Met’s Annual Summer Recital Series Returns with Six Free Concerts in All Five Boroughs of New York City

Met singers soprano Emily Pogorelc, tenor Joshua Blue, and baritone Edward Nelson perform on June 15 at SummerStage in Central Park and on June 17 at Brooklyn Bridge Park

Additional recitals feature Met Lindemann Young Artists soprano Tessa McQueen and bass-baritone Lonwabo Mose, as well as tenor Alex McKissick

The series is presented in collaboration with Capital One City Parks Foundation SummerStage and is part of Carnegie Hall’s United in Sound: America at 250 festival

New York, NY (April 28, 2026)—The Metropolitan Opera’s 2026 Summer Recital Series, now in its 17th season, begins Monday, June 8, at 7PM at the Williamsbridge Oval (Bronx) and continues on Wednesday, June 10, at 7PM at Socrates Sculpture Park (Queens); Friday, June 12, at 7PM at Jackie Robinson Park (Manhattan); Sunday, June 14, at 7PM in Staten Island (location tba); Monday, June 15, at 8PM at SummerStage in Central Park (Manhattan); and Wednesday, June 17, at 7PM at Brooklyn Bridge Park (Brooklyn). These six free outdoor recitals will feature famous opera arias and duets, as well as other classical favorites.

The concerts at SummerStage in Central Park and Brooklyn Bridge Park include performances by soprano Emily Pogorelc, tenor Joshua Blue, and baritone Edward Nelson. Met assistant conductor Dimitri Dover will accompany at the piano. Tenor Alex McKissick and rising stars of the Met’s Lindemann Young Artist Development Program—soprano Tessa McQueen and bass-baritone Lonwabo Mose—headline the remaining four additional recitals, with Mariam Bombrun joining the singers at the piano.

Pogorelc returns next season as Pamina in Mozart’s The Magic Flute, and Blue returns as Thomas Havens in the world premiere of Missy Mazzoli’s Lincoln in the Bardo and as Harry in Puccini’s La Fanciulla del West. Nelson made his company debut in Terence Blanchard’s Champion in 2023 and returned this season as Tracy Bacon in the company premiere of Mason Bates’s The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay.

McQueen, in her second year with the program, made her Met debut as Countess Ceprano in Verdi’s Rigoletto in 2025 and appeared as the First Lady in Mozart’s The Magic Flute and Annina in Verdi’s La Traviata this season. Mose will make his company debut next season as Happy in La Fanciulla del West.

The series is presented in collaboration with Capital One City Parks Foundation SummerStage and is part of Carnegie Hall’s year-long celebration United in Sound: America at 250.

The Met’s Summer Recital Series is funded by the Elizabeth B. McGraw Foundation, in honor of Mrs. McGraw and her son, John. Additional support has also been provided, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, in partnership with the City Council, and in collaboration with the Department of Parks and Recreation.

No tickets are required. There are no rain dates for any of the park recitals. For more information, please visit click here.