The Metropolitan Opera Prepares for Lockout

The Metropolitan Opera continues problems as the General Manager, Peter Gelb, in a letter told the orchestra, chorus and stagehands to prepare for lockdown if no agreement is reached by next week.

Gelb ssaid, "if we are not able to reach agreements by July 31 that would enable the Met to operate on an economically sound basis, please plan for the likelihood of a work stoppage beginning Aug. 1.... I sincerely hope to avoid such an unfortunate event."

The Met season opens with Music Director James Levine conducting a new production of Mozart's eternal masterpiece, Nozze di Figaro, directed by Richard Eyre. This could delay the preseason rehearsal schedule, as well as technical rehearsals for "Cavalleria Rusticana" and "Pagliacci".

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