Chalamet thanked by Royal Ballet and Opera boss for boosting ticket sales
Chalamet thanked by Royal Ballet and Opera boss for boosting ticket sales
Following a series of remarks that sparked debate, Hollywood actor Timothée Chalamet has been commended by the head of the Royal Ballet and Opera (RBO) for contributing to a surge in ticket sales. Alex Beard, the institution’s director, shared this sentiment with The Times, highlighting how Chalamet’s comments generated significant public interest.
Beard remarked, “We didn’t want to respond in a stiff or elitist manner to Chalamet. Instead, we simply said, ‘Take a look at what we’re doing, mate’—like pointing out that our biggest audience demographic is between 20 and 30 years old.”
Chalamet’s remarks, which appeared to downplay the relevance of ballet and opera, were made during a discussion with Matthew McConaughey at the University of Texas in February. The actor suggested that the art forms were struggling to maintain relevance, stating, “I don’t want to be working in ballet, or opera, or things where it’s like, ‘Hey, keep this thing alive, even though like no one cares about this anymore.’”
Chalamet quickly clarified, “All respect to all the ballet and opera people out there,” acknowledging how his words might be interpreted.
The Seattle Opera seized the moment, transforming the controversy into a promotional campaign. They encouraged attendees to use the promo code “TIMOTHEE” for discounted tickets during an upcoming Carmen performance. The message included a friendly invitation: “Timmy, you’re welcome to use it too.”
In a broader conversation with The Times, Beard also addressed the RBO’s recent decision to implement dynamic pricing. He emphasized that the policy wasn’t as aggressive as it might seem, explaining, “We don’t alter prices during the priority-booking phase or the initial weeks of public sales. Lower price tiers remain fixed, and there’s a limit on how high top-tier tickets can go.”
Beard added, “Tweaking the top price could help keep the lower rates stable.”