Back to today’s briefing

Story perspectives

Met Opera Director Explores Art Amid Crime Shift

1/7/2026

29 5

Summary

Story summary

On January 7, 2026, Charles Edwards, director of the Metropolitan Opera's I Puritani, visited the Metropolitan Museum of Art to view a portrait by Anthony van Dyck of Queen Henrietta Maria.
Edwards had previously created interpretations of the painting.
In the opera, Elvira paints portraits of a woman she believes her fiancé ran off with.
Crime statistics from 2025 showed a drop in murders and an increase in reported rapes.

1 of 1

Story summary

On January 7, 2026, Charles Edwards, director of the Metropolitan Opera's I Puritani, visited the Metropolitan Museum of Art to view a portrait by Anthony van Dyck of Queen Henrietta Maria.
Edwards had previously created interpretations of the painting.
In the opera, Elvira paints portraits of a woman she believes her fiancé ran off with.
Crime statistics from 2025 showed a drop in murders and an increase in reported rapes.