ˌɔn noʊvˈɛmbɚ twˈɛnti fˈaɪv, nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd nˈaɪnti sˈɪks, ɡˈɪlfɹi mˌeɪd hɪz deɪbjˈuː wɪððə mˌɛtɹəpˈɑːlɪtən ˈɑːpɚɹə æz dɛmˈɛtɹɪəs ɪnðə kˈʌmpəniz pɹəmˈɪɹ ʌv bɹˈɪʔn̩z ɐ mˈɪdsʌmɚ nˈaɪts dɹˈiːm, ɐ ɹˈoʊl hiː sˈæŋ ˈeɪt tˈaɪmz ðæt sˈiːzən.
On November 25, 1996, Gilfry made his debut with the Metropolitan Opera as Demetrius in the company's premiere of Britten's A Midsummer Night's Dream, a role he sang eight times that season.