Peter Gelb
Peter Gelb (born 1953[1]) is an American arts administrator. Since August 2006, he has been General Manager of the Metropolitan Opera in New York City.
Career
Early career
While in high school, Gelb began his association with the Metropolitan Opera as an usher. At age 17, Gelb began his career in classical music as office boy to impresario Sol Hurok.
Gelb managed the Boston Symphony Orchestra’s 1979 China tour. The following year Gelb became Vladimir Horowitz's manager. Gelb assisted the pianist in the revival of his performing career, and managed his return to Russia in 1986.[citation needed]
In 1982, Gelb founded, and was president of, CAMI Video, a division of Columbia Artists Management. In this capacity, for six years he was executive producer of "The Metropolitan Opera Presents", the Met's series of televised opera broadcasts. Gelb produced 25 televised productions for the Met.[citation needed]
Sony Classical
Gelb was president of
Metropolitan Opera
Gelb became the 16th General Manager of the Metropolitan Opera, taking over from
Gelb launched a number of new ventures for the Met, such as taking advantage of new media technology to distribute Met performances to a wider global audience. This became
During his tenure at the Met, Gelb has spearheaded the production of contemporary works, including the staging of two of John Adams's operas, Doctor Atomic and Nixon in China, with a third Adams opera, The Death of Klinghoffer, premiering in October 2014.[needs update] His other ideas have included an annual "family-oriented" presentation at Christmas time, and collaborations with Lincoln Center Theater to develop new musical works with musicians such as Wynton Marsalis, Rachel Portman, and Rufus Wainwright.[4] In January 2007 Gelb announced a commission for a new opera from Osvaldo Golijov, tentatively scheduled for the 2010-11 season.[5] However, following the death in 2008 of Anthony Minghella who was to have written the libretto, the premiere was postponed to 2018.[needs update][6][7]
Gelb, whose contract was extended in November 2019 until 2027,[8] has taken measures to increase ticket sales,[9] suspending performances in February when sales are slowest, extending the season until June and adding Sunday matinees. The Met also instituted Fridays under 40, a program offering discounted tickets to younger audience members.[10]
The Met also raised the number of new productions, including those of recent operas and works written for the Met. In 2021-22, in collaboration with Met Music Director Yannick Nezet-Seguin, he programed three contemporary works and seven new productions in 2022-23.[11]
Gelb has also diversified casts and staff at the Met.
Metropolitan Opera and the pandemic
In 2020, while live performances were on hiatus due to the pandemic, Gelb organized the start of Nightly Met Opera Streams, free online presentations of archival performances. The program lasted 16 months, with over 20 million views.[14]
In July 2020, The Met launched the Met Stars Live in Concert initiative, a pay-per-view service.[15]
Metropolitan Opera and Ukraine
Under Mr. Gelb’s leadership, the Metropolitan Opera acted to express solidarity with Ukraine[16] over the Russian invasion. Within days of the attack, the Met opera and chorus sang the Ukrainian national anthem ahead of a regularly scheduled performance. Two weeks later, the Met organized a benefit concert on behalf of Ukraine. Mr. Gelb, in cooperation with the Polish National Opera, organized the Ukrainian Freedom Orchestra,[17] which was made up of Ukrainian musicians inside and outside of the country.
The orchestra, led by Mr. Gelb’s wife, the conductor Keri-Lynn Wilson,[18] toured during the summer of 2022, traveling to 12 cities in Europe and the United States as an expression of support for Ukraine and to raise money for its people. The Met continues to present Russian works and engage Russian singers, performing Tchaikovsky’s “Eugene Onegin” in the spring of 2022[19] and Shostakovich’s “Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk” in the fall of 2023.[20]
Awards and recognitions
In 2013, Gelb received the Sanford Prize from the Yale School of Music, and was named Chevalier de la Légion d’honneur by the French President.
Controversies
Gelb's history at Sony Classical caused concern among critics when he was appointed to take over as General Manager at the Metropolitan Opera. He responded to fears that he would dilute the Met's artistic standards as he seeks a wider audience for the company, saying “I think what I’m doing is exactly what the Met engaged me to do, which is build bridges to a broader public. This is not about dumbing down the Met, it’s just making it accessible."[25]
Gelb's relationship with the press became strained during his time at the Metropolitan Opera, that his new production of Der Ring des Nibelungen and, by extension his tenure as the company's general manager, received poor reviews. In 2012, radio station WQXR-FM rescinded a blog post by critic Olivia Giovetti reportedly after Gelb complained to the station's chief executive. Giovetti's piece opined that the Met under Gelb "bears the mothball-like scent of an oligarchy."
In a phone call to the station, Gelb called the piece "awful and nasty."[26] Weeks later, following an equally critical essay about the Met under Gelb by Brian Kellow and a negative review of the Met's new production of The Ring, the magazine Opera News—produced by the Met Opera Guild, a support organization—announced it would no longer review Metropolitan Opera productions.[27] Gelb said the decision was made “in collaboration with the guild". However, due to negative public reaction, the decision was quickly reversed.[28]
In 2014 Gelb and the Met were dogged by new controversy
Gelb was contacted by a police detective in October 2016 about allegations of sexual abuse of a minor by Met conductor
Pulitzer Prize-winning music critic Justin Davidson mused: "I’m not sure the Met can survive Levine’s disgrace."[37] Similarly, The Wall Street Journal's drama critic Terry Teachout wrote an article entitled: “The Levine Cataclysm: How allegations against James Levine of sexual misconduct with teenagers could topple the entire Metropolitan Opera”.[38]
Personal life
Peter Gelb is the son of Arthur Gelb, former managing editor of The New York Times, and writer Barbara Gelb.
Gelb is married to conductor
Videography
- The Metropolitan Opera Gala 1991, Deutsche Grammophon DVD, 00440-073-4582, 2010
- New Year's Eve Concert 1992: Richard Strauss Gala, Kultur Video DVD, D4209, 2007
- Dvořák in Prague: a Celebration(1993), Kultur Video DVD, D4211, 2007
References
- ^ "Metropolitan Opera press release, 30 October 2004". Metoperafamily.org. Archived from the original on 2012-08-06. Retrieved 2012-08-14.
- ^ Winn, Steven (Jul 16, 2002). "Classical Music: Tuning Up For The 21st Century – Crossover works find an audience – But some say these projects are less interesting artistically". SFGate. Archived from the original on February 17, 2006. Retrieved Nov 21, 2019.
- ^ "Norman Lebrecht, "How the Met was fixed". La Scena Musicale, 11 November 2004". Scena.org. 2004-11-11. Retrieved 2012-08-14.
- ^ "Rupert Christiansen, "Met's new man is aiming for the stars", Telegraph, 24 June 2006". Telegraph.co.uk. Archived from the original on 2007-03-17. Retrieved 2012-08-14.
- ^ Tommasini, Anthony (January 22, 2007). "New Operas at the Met: What Works?". New York Times. p. E1. Retrieved September 23, 2017.
- ^ Lawless, Jill. "Minghella won Oscar for 'English Patient'". Rocky Mountain News via Associated Press (March 19, 2008) (subscription required)
- Montreal Gazette(December 18, 2010)
- ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2022-09-12.
- ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2022-09-12.
- ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2022-10-26.
- ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2022-09-12.
- ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2022-09-21.
- ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2022-09-21.
- ^ Feldman, Adam. "The Met is streaming its final set of free operas this week". Time Out New York. Retrieved 2023-01-26.
- ^ Levere, Jane. "Met Opera Tomorrow Launches Live, Pay-Per-View Concert Series, Featuring Stars Performing In Unusual Locations In Europe, US". Forbes. Retrieved 2023-01-26.
- ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2022-12-29.
- ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2022-12-29.
- ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-01-12.
- ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-01-12.
- ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-01-12.
- ^ "Peter Gelb receives Sanford Medal at Convocation". music.yale.edu. September 12, 2013. Retrieved 2023-03-03.
- ^ "National Institute of Social Sciences Honors Hunter President Raab". Upper East Side, NY Patch. 2022-06-27. Retrieved 2023-03-03.
- ^ "*** ATTO COMPLETO ***". www.gazzettaufficiale.it. Retrieved 2023-03-03.
- ^ "Zelensky awarded state awards of Ukraine to Hollywood celebrities: how did they distinguish themselves in front of the country". ForumDaily. 2022-08-31. Retrieved 2023-03-03.
- ^ Wakin, Daniel J. (September 7, 2006). "The Multiplex as Opera House: Will They Serve Popcorn?". New York Times. p. B1. Retrieved September 23, 2017.
- ^ Wakin, Daniel J. (May 1, 2012). "'Ring' Criticism, Rescinded". New York Times. Retrieved September 23, 2017.
- ^ Wakin, Daniel J. (May 21, 2012). "Latest Met Aria: Bad Opera News Is No News". The New York Times.
- ^ Pompeo, Joe (May 22, 2012). "In reversal, Opera News will continue to cover the Metropolitan Opera". Capital New York.
- ^ Ross, Alex (Jun 24, 2014). "The Met's "Klinghoffer" Problem". Retrieved Nov 21, 2019 – via www.newyorker.com.
- ^ "The Death of Klinghoffer - Adams | 2014-15 Tickets - Metropolitan Opera". Archived from the original on 2014-08-25. Retrieved 2014-09-01.
- ^ Kozinn, Allan (September 11, 1991). "Klinghoffer Daughters Protest Opera". Retrieved September 23, 2017.
- ^ The Met, the opera on the murder of Leon Klinghoffer and the politics of protest - The Washington Post
- ^ "'Death of Klinghoffer' goes on at Met Opera House despite protests". Los Angeles Times. Oct 21, 2014. Retrieved Nov 21, 2019.
- ^ "Metropolitan Opera suspends James Levine over sexual abuse allegations," The Washington Post.
- ^ "Met Opera Reels as Fourth Man Accuses James Levine of Sexual Abuse," The New York Times.
- ^ "Met Opera waited year to act on accusation against James Levine," NY Daily News.
- ^ Justin Davidson. "The Met May Not Survive the James Levine Disgrace"
- ^ Teachout, Terry. "The Levine Cataclysm". WSJ. Retrieved Nov 21, 2019.