UPDATED: Metropolitan Opera Performances Cancelled Following a Suspicious Substance Being Thrown Orchestra Pit

Update: According to the New York Post, the person responsible for the disturbance is Texan jeweler, Robert Kaizer; the substance has been identified as the ashes of Kaizer's deceased friend and mentor, a fellow opera lover.

As reported by the New York Times, following a patron tossing an unknown white, powdery substance into the orchestra pit, the final act of today's matinee performance of Guillaume Tell at the Metropolitan Opera was cancelled. Following an extended second intermission caused by the initial investigation into the incident, a Met staff member made the announcement that, as a measure of caution, the final act would be cancelled.

According to a musicologist present at the performance, no one was hurt during the incident; one person was taken to the hospital, but the reason remains unclear. The NYPD's Emergency Service Unit is continuing to investigate the incident. The identity of the the person responsible for throwing the powder, who remains at large, has not yet been revealed.

Officials are currently determining if tonight's performance of L'Italiana in Algeri will continue as scheduled.

UPDATE: According to the Metropolitan Opera's Facebook, tonight's performance has been cancelled.

For the original New York Times article, click here.

Photo Credit: Dylan Hayden

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