Exclusive: Met rehires Brit head of music
mainJohn Fisher was Director of Music Administration at the Metropolitan Opera from 1997 to 2006.
He went on to run Welsh National Opera for four years.
We hear that John, 65, is returning to New York as Director of Music Administration at the Met from September 1.
That won’t go down well, he’s widely despised in the theater.
Could you tell us why he’s despised?
None of my business, I suppose, but my stay at the Met corresponded almost precisely with John’s, and I never got that kind of negative impression from my colleagues. His farewell party was well attended and full of good feelings, as I recall….
This is the first, and probably the last time that I will ever comment on a blog, but I couldn’t let this comment go by without a response. I am a member of the Met music staff and can tell you that John is absolutely beloved by staff and singers alike!
thank you…. that was also my impression.
It seems to me that the extraordinarily misguided comments from ‘Respect’ may – perhaps – belie sour grapes.
As many in the field already know only too well, John is one of the world’s greatest vocal coaches who has worked at high level in many of the principal opera houses and his cv is second to none. His return to the Met has been justly applauded and I, for one, am sure that he can contribute siginificantly to the resurrection of this once greatest of companies.
Welcome back, John!!!
I thought he’d gone back to the Met immediately after his four years at Welsh.
It’s a good sign he’s back.
I’d believed that he had returned to the Met off and on in recent seasons to work on various productions and help coach the Lindemann young artists. If he’s returning as Director of Music Administration, then what’s happening with Craig Rutenberg?
John is also casting consultant with Opera Rara.