Met Opera musicians receive $150,000 private gift

Musicians of the Metropolitan Opera orchestra who have not been paid since March in a strongarm tactic by their general manager Peter Gelb have received an unexpected $150,000 gift from a finance house, Spring Point Partners.

C. Graham Berwind III, a Director of Spring Point Partners said: ‘As a board member of three arts organizations – The Metropolitan Opera, Dramatists Guild Foundation, and Opera America – I’m acutely aware what effect the total shut down of the performing arts is having on people who bring the arts to life. While we all wait for the day it is safe for performers and audiences to return to theaters, many performers are experiencing financial hardship as major arts organizations announce the cancellation of their seasons.

‘I felt it was important not only to support these organizations to help sustain them, but also to provide assistance directly to campaigns established to make emergency grants to artists in need – such as the ones started by the MET Orchestra Musicians, the Met Chorus Artists, and the Dramatists Guild Foundation.’