James Marcus, a Goldman Sachs banker who became managing director of the Metropolitan Opera in 1976 and chairman ten years later, has died at 85. A critic of Peter Gelb’s he called the 2009 Tosca ‘the worst production I’ve seen in my life.’ The following year he made a demonstrative $10 million gift to Juilliard, the Met’s neighbour.
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A Goldman Sachs banker donated how little…?
My article about James S. Marcus http://www.wqxr.org/#!/story/remembering-james-s-marcus/
The longtime devotion of Mr. Marcus to opera and vocal music is indeed legend to all who knew him, as was his unerring honesty, kindness, and dedication to all things New York. He was brave enough to call things as they were, and earned the respect of his friends and colleagues in doing so.
Rest well, Jim. You leave behind only good deeds and loving memories.
(Note to “DAVE SAYS” for the snarky comment – The gift from Mr. Marcus to Juilliard was only ONE of a lifetime of gifts to cultural and medical institutions. We don’t have many true philanthropists remaining with his sense of leadership and involvement.)