I met my love at the Met
mainSusan Laney Spector, oboist in the Metropolitan Opera orchestra, has posted a beautiful reminiscence of how the concertmaster and his soprano wife took her social life in hand and found her a life-mate.
The conspiracy was months in planning, and there were several failed attempts, but ultimately the cabal was successful in its treachery.
The plot was hatched in my third season at the Metropolitan Opera and involved the MET Orchestra concertmaster at the time, Raymond Gniewek, and his wife, soprano Judith Blegen…
Read on here.
’twas nice to read…indeed 😉
Although the outcome may be positive, the manipulation involved is unjustifiable and unethical. It is crass and patronising to assume that a single woman would be /ipso facto/ interested in having dates/matchmaking imposed on her (I say “imposed” because the subject in the story was placed deliberately in a situation where she felt it too awkward to refuse — admittedly, it is not nearly so bad as the deplorable vogue for extremely public marriage proposals, but still…). Such actions are particularly deplorable when conducted in the workplace (and I would classify a staff cafeteria as part of the subject’s workplace) by a colleague in a position of authority (the leader of the orchestra). Furthermore, the actions of said colleague, in processing data about the marital status of orchestral players without their consent, would probably be in breach of data-protection law.
This reply must be a joke. If not, just a rant by a miserable individual with more time than sense.
The Spectors are a lovely couple. (I’ve met them both on several occasions.) Nothing more be said than thanks for sharing such a positive story. The world needs more of them.
SVM – Back in your hole.
Playing matchmaker in this way can be a bit excessive, but orchestras are close knit families, especially opera orchestras, who work mostly in the same place all year in close quarters, and also don’t get to socialise a lot with people outside of their work due to their busy evenings. This was obviously meant with the best of intentions.
And anyway, meeting someone for half an hour or so is not that big of a deal. She could have simply declined further dates. I think you’re fighting the wrong battles here.
Jeez – lighten up!!