Julian Fellowes, the acclaimed creator of the hit series 'The Gilded Age,' delved into the world of dueling opera houses in the show's second season. The narrative tension between the old-money-backed Academy of Music and the new-money Metropolitan Opera served as a symbolic representation of the clash between tradition and progress during the Gilded Age.
Fellowes, known for his Emmy-winning work on 'Downton Abbey,' saw the opera wars as a reflection of the changing times in American society. The influx of new wealth represented by figures like the Vanderbilts and Rockefellers signaled the dawn of the American Century, where old establishments were challenged by up-and-coming juggernauts.
