Sebastian Baumgarten’s widely-loathed production of “Tannhäuser” came to a halt twenty minutes into the first act, due to a stage malfunction. The audience were asked to leave the auditorium while the fault was repaired. the opera resumed within half an hour.
In the 138-year history of the Bayreuth Festival, this is the first time this has happened,’ said Bayreuth archvist Sven Friedrich.
Musicians of the Metropolitan Opera have submitted an 84-page document, outlining what they say are the multiple shortcomings of Peter Gelb’s management.
They maintain that the Met can restore its fortunes and maintain present wage levels by a number of judicious measures. The largest involve a reduction in the number of new productions and efficiencies in scheduling, rehearsals and overtime payments.
We have not yet studied the full document. Here is the union’s summary:
New York, NY–Friday, July 25, 2014–Local 802, American Federation of Musicians, and the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra musicians today have commenced negotiations with Met Opera management including General Manager Peter Gelb. The union and the musicians released the attached report detailing the failed management and flawed artistic vision of Gelb during his 8-year tenure at the helm of the Met. The report analyzes the dismal reception of Gelb’s expensive new productions by opera critics and patrons and also recommends specific strategies the Met could employ to save $20 Million annually by curtailing Gelb’s lavish spending and realizing scheduling efficiencies.
Gelb has stated in the press that the Met is facing financial ruin and possible bankruptcy, while refusing to provide the musicians, the media or the public any evidence of such a crisis. He has announced that he must impose draconian cuts of over $30 Million, yet has refused to substantiate/document the reasons. No one yet knows why Gelb is asking for over $30 Million in cuts when his reported deficit is only $2.8 Million in the context of a $327 million annual budget.
What is known, however, is that under Gelb the Met’s labor costs have remained flat, while the Met Opera budget has increased by nearly 50% ($105 Million). This is in large part due to Gelb’s overspending on critically panned, unpopular productions, as well as poor scheduling, inferior marketing and extensive management waste. The musicians are in favor or new and artistically daring productions but want to see them managed expertly, whereby the Met is able to achieve artistic success while living within their budget.
The inimitable Carlo Bergonzi has died in a hoospital in Milan. He spent the last years of his life in Verdi’s home village, Bussetto. He was 90.
Vale, Carlo!
Any composer or writer who has even received a bad review, or a string of them from the same critic, will find wisdom and encouragement in this lovely reminiscence by Derek Bermel. Read here.
Now listen here: I love this piece.
