Wynne Evans wades into Timothee Chalamet opera controversy with angry rant: ‘You’ve got it wrong!’
Welsh opera singer Wynne Evans has hit back at US-French actor Timothée Chalamet after the Marty Supreme star stated in an interview that ballet and opera are no longer relevant and that “nobody cares” about the two art forms.
Speaking to Matthew McConaughey for Variety last month, the Oscar-nominated actor was discussing shifting cinema habits and attention spans when he turned to other artistic disciplines.
“I don’t want to be working in ballet or opera or things where it’s like ‘Hey, keep this thing alive,’ even though no one cares about this anymore,” Mr Chalamet stated.
However, the backlash from prestigious institutions and fans of them was swift and pointed.
Timothée Chalamet said ‘nobody cares’ about opera and ballet
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VARIETY/CNN
The Metropolitan Opera posted a behind-the-scenes video on Instagram showcasing the craftsmanship behind their productions, tagging Mr Chalamet with the caption: “This one’s for you.” The clip garnered more than 11,000 shares.
Now, Go Compare advert star Mr Evans, 54, has also chimed in with his thoughts.
Taking to Instagram on Monday, he shared a video in which he commented: “Hello, I wanted to come on and talk about Timothée Chalamet and him saying that opera and ballet aren’t relevant anymore.
“I find it odd that a man who is fighting for the future of cinema is actually dissing the two art forms that brought us opera and cinema in the first place.”
The singer, who took part in BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing in 2024, continued: “I mean, you look at Labo M, right? It was the first ever romcom.
“I mean, I don’t understand why you would knock it, and in a world that is full of AI, a world that is full of fake, a world that is full of auto-tune, these are the the two art forms that are raw, that are performing without the aid of a safety net, you know.
“There’s no mic, there’s no auto-tune, there’s nothing. There’s just you there, making this connection with the audience.
“And opera houses, to be fair, are going out of their way to make it more accessible.
Wynne Evans and Sarah Fox performing opera in 2019
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GETTY
“Alright, there’s still a lot of work to do there, but I think you’ve got it wrong, mate.”
He concluded the video message with direct words to the actor, adding: “I don’t think you can knock something that’s survived for 400 years and is still going.
“What we should see is if one of your films is still around in 400 years, and then we’ll have a chat.”
His caption also reflected his passionate thoughts on the subject, with Mr Wynne having penned next to the clip: “Timothée Chalamet says opera isn’t relevant anymore. I disagree. Loudly.
Wynne Evans shared his thoughts on the controversial Timothée Chalamet comments
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“Opera is 400 years old. It gave us film. Every dramatic technique you see on a cinema screen — the close-up, the emotional arc, the villain, the doomed hero — traces back to the opera house.
“And here’s the thing that gets me: it is one of the only art forms left where the human voice stands completely alone.
“No auto-tune. No amplification. No safety net. Just a person, filling a theatre with nothing but their body.
“Timothée Chalamet makes brilliant films. I wonder if they’ll still be watched in 400 years. Opera will be. #Opera #TimotheeChalamet #ClassicalMusic #OperaIsNotDead #wynneevansshow.” (sic)
The actor’s remarks has sparked a huge response, with The Royal Ballet and Opera having issued a formal statement to The Hollywood Reporter, declaring: “Ballet and opera have never existed in isolation. They have continually informed, inspired and elevated other art forms.”
Paris’s Opéra national also responded on Instagram, quipping: “Spoiler alert: Ping-pong also exists at the opera” – a pointed reference to Chalamet’s table tennis film. Floods of individual performers were equally forthright in their criticism.
