While recent statements from Timothée Chalamet regarding the supposed disdain of the public for opera have sparked strong reactions in the opera world, some signs seem to indicate an increased visibility of the genre in popular culture. Elle USA magazine highlights the enduring influence of operatic singing in today’s pop music. Several artists, such as Rosalía, Beyoncé, and Raye, embrace the vocal, dramatic, or aesthetic heritage of opera, whether through technical training, vocal ornamentations, or a certain grandiloquence in sound.
The operatic style seems to be spreading beyond classical stages. In pop music, it is characterized by vocal flights, dramatic choirs, or sung passages with the precision and power typical of operatic singing, giving contemporary tracks an almost operatic dimension.
Beyond the music itself, the operatic imagination is also making its mark on social media. A trend called “opera girl” sees young influencers adopting aesthetic codes associated with opera, such as dramatic gowns, theatrical silhouettes, classical singing references, in videos widely shared online.
France is not immune to this phenomenon. For the 70th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest, to be held in May in Vienna, 17-year-old opera singer Monroe will defend the French colors with “Regarde!”, a pop song with operatic influences. Discovered by the show “Prodiges” on France 2 in 2025, the young soprano is part of a noticeable trend at the contest: in 2024, the Swiss artist Nemo stood out with “The Code,” while in 2025, the Austro-Filipino countertenor JJ won with “Wasted Love,” two songs blending contemporary pop with vocal flights reminiscent of operatic singing.
All these initiatives show that opera, far from being confined to classical stages, now finds its place in pop music, inspiring artists and young listeners. As Jen Luzzo, press director of the Metropolitan Opera, quoted by Elle USA, reminds us: “Opera in pop is not a trend: it has always been there.”
