Met Lockout

[DottieD'Luscia]

After Eight, thank you!! My mom and I both detested that hideous newish production of Hansel and Gretel. I wish they would bring back the earlier production which happened to be my first opera at the Met back in 1975.

[After Eight]

Dottie,

You are so right!

That earlier production was so wonderful, so magical, so perfect.

So of course the powers that be had to shelve it and replace it with a grotesque monstrosity.

Just par for the course.

[PalJoey]

First, a three-day truce between Israel and Hamas...and now a three-day cease fire between the Met and the unions.

As Tennessee Williams said, "Sometimes--there's God--so quickly."

[dreaming]

That's enough time for the board to fire Gelb and maybe jointly piece together the season. (Maybe they can operate under the board for the season while vetting candidates...that would be my wish.)

[Kad]

Gelb recently renewed a contract - I imagine if they decide to oust him, he would receive a large chunk of money.

[dreaming]

Fine. Give him the money and tell him to go away-he pollutes the art form.

[PalJoey]

Why do you keep mentioning the board firing him as if that's a possibility?

He's doing what he's doing on behalf of the board.

[dreaming]

It sure is a possibility that they'll ask him to step down. It is, PJ and you know that. Someone's head is going to roll over the bad publicity this has generated-and his is looking good.

[frogs_fan85]

This is a total kick the can scenario.

[PalJoey]

Tom Huizenga at NPR has a great "Meet the Cast of the Labor Dispute" article up:


NPR: Meet The Cast Of The Met Opera's Labor Drama by

[AEA AGMA SM]

There is an online petition that I've started seeing on Facebook in support of the staff who are being blamed by Gelb for all of the financial woes.


Save the Met Opera

[South Fl Marc]

And the delay in the lockout is extended for one more week. I think this looks promising. I can't believe they would continue with negotiations if all the parties weren't willing to compromise. I hope so.
One More Week

[Kad]

Regardless of whether or not a lockout occurs, I think the Met's reputation has been tarnished for the near future.