Gelb’s Met: Artists May Love It, But Will Audiences Follow?

As Peter Gelb prepares to take the helm of New York’s Metropolitan Opera, he has served notice that he intends to make some major changes to the venerable company. “Gelb argues that this approach will attract, not threaten, the opera establishment: ‘By having more new productions in any given season – of standard repertoire as well as new operas – the Met will become an even more attractive place for the top singers. The greatest artists and conductors want to be stimulated.’ Ah – but do opera audiences? There’s the rub.”