Peter Gelb waives his salary as the Met’s musicians are suspended

The Metropolitan Opera today cancelled the remainder of the 2019–20 season, which was to have ended on May 9, 2020.

Its general manager Peter Gelb said: ‘As devastating as it is to have to close the Met, this was the rare instance where the show simply couldn’t go on. We send our thanks to our loyal audiences and we’re doing our best to support our employees during this extraordinarily difficult time. We look forward to being reunited in the fall with a new season.’

Members of the orchestra and chorus have, as we reported earlier, been suspended without pay.

The Met spins this to read: The Met’s full-time union employees have been offered pay through March, with health care coverage continuing throughout the crisis. 

In addition: The higher paid members of the company’s administrative staff are taking reductions in their pay, with Mr. Gelb waiving his entire salary.

There is a $60 million black hole that the Met needs to fill by urgent fundraising.