The Met gets a one-par reply in the New Yorker

When the New Yorker refused to publish a letter from the Metropolitan Opera accusing it of inaccuracy, cooler heads than Peter Gelb’s submitted a shortened, watered-down version of the General Manager’s original rant, leaving out any suggestion that the reporter got it wrong.

Here’s what gets published today:

DRAMA AT THE MET

We were disheartened to read James Stewart’s piece about the Metropolitan Opera, which presents a one-sided, negative view of what is, in fact, a thriving, vital organization that is essential to the cultural life of New York, and of the world (“A Fight at the Opera,” March 23rd). The article emphasizes the challenging economics of grand opera and the difficulties of the Met’s recent union negotiations without providing a balanced perspective on a company that is at the height of its artistic powers. Today, the Met is at the fore, making opera globally accessible through our game-changing, live, high-definition transmissions, which have been seen by millions of people, in seventy countries. We’re certainly not suggesting that sustaining the Met is an easy task, but, under the watchful eye of the energetic Peter Gelb, his management team, and our dedicated board, it is a mission that is being accomplished. There is plenty of drama at the Met, both onstage and off, but not as Stewart told it.

Kevin Kennedy, President

Ann Ziff, Chairman

William C. Morris, Executive Committee Chairman

Judith-Ann Corrente, Secretary

Metropolitan Opera

New York City

In addition, there are letters from the AFL-CIO’s Alan Gordon and a ‘stunned’ reader. Click here.