Editing Metropolitan Opera (section)

===Peter Gelb===
[[Peter Gelb]], formerly a record producer, succeeded Volpe as general manager of the company in 2006.. Gelb began outlining his plans in April 2006; these included more new productions each year, ideas for shaving staging costs, and attracting new audiences without deterring existing opera-lovers. Gelb saw these issues as crucial for an organization which is dependent on private financing.

Gelb began his tenure by opening the 2006–2007 season with a production of ''[[Madama Butterfly]]'' by [[Anthony Minghella]] originally staged for English National Opera.<ref>{{cite news | author=Anthony Tommasini | title=The Tragedy of ''Butterfly'', With Striking Cinematic Touches | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/27/arts/music/27butter.html | work=The New York Times | date=2006-09-27 | access-date=2025-02-26}}</ref>  Gelb focused on expanding the Met's audience through a number of fronts. Increasing the number of new productions every season to keep the Met's stagings fresh and noteworthy, Gelb partnered with other opera companies to import productions and engaged directors from theater, circus, and film to produce the Met's own original productions. Theater directors [[Bartlett Sher]], [[Mary Zimmerman]], and [[Jack O'Brien (director)|Jack O'Brien]] joined the list of the Met's directors along with Stephen Wadsworth, Willy Decker, [[Laurent Pelly]], [[Luc Bondy]] and other opera directors to create new stagings for the company. [[Robert Lepage]], the Canadian director of [[Cirque du Soleil]], was engaged by the Met to direct a revival of ''[[Der Ring des Nibelungen]]'' using hydraulic stage platforms and projected 3D imagery.  Gelb also initiated live high-definition video transmissions to cinemas worldwide, and regular live satellite radio broadcasts on the Met's own SiriusXM radio channel.

In 2010, the company named [[Fabio Luisi]] as its principal guest conductor in 2010, and subsequently its principal conductor in 2011, to fill a void created by Levine's two-year absence because of illness.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/24/arts/music/fabio-luisi-james-levines-heir-apparent-at-the-met-opera.html | title=On Deck, the Met's Pinch-Hitter | work=The New York Times | author=Daniel J. Wakin | date=April 21, 2011 | access-date=August 7, 2024}}</ref> In 2013, following the severance of the dancers' contracts, Gelb announced that the resident ballet company at the Met would cease to exist.<ref>{{cite news|last=Kozinn|first=Allan|author-link=Allan Kozinn|title=Met Opera Dismantles Its Ballet in Buyouts|newspaper=The New York Times|date=May 20, 2013|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/21/arts/dance/metropolitan-opera-disbands-its-ballet-corps.html|access-date=May 22, 2013|archive-date=May 21, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130521204707/http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/21/arts/dance/metropolitan-opera-disbands-its-ballet-corps.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2014, Gelb and the Met found new controversy<ref>{{cite magazine| url=http://www.newyorker.com/culture/culture-desk/the-mets-klinghoffer-problem| title=The Met's ''Klinghoffer'' Problem| first=Alex| last=Ross| author-link=Alex Ross (music critic)| date=June 24, 2014| magazine=[[The New Yorker]]| access-date=December 6, 2017| archive-date=September 24, 2017| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170924001641/https://www.newyorker.com/culture/culture-desk/the-mets-klinghoffer-problem| url-status=live}}</ref> with a production of [[John Adams (composer)|John Adams]]'s opera ''[[The Death of Klinghoffer]]'',<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.metopera.org/opera/the-death-of-klinghoffer-adams-tickets| title=The Death of Klinghoffer Tickets| publisher=Metropolitan Opera| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140825055938/http://www.metopera.org/opera/the-death-of-klinghoffer-adams-tickets| archive-date=August 25, 2014}}</ref> due to criticism that the work was antisemitic.<ref>{{cite news|last=Kozinn|first=Allan|author-link=Allan Kozinn|title=Klinghoffer Daughters Protest Opera|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1991/09/11/arts/klinghoffer-daughters-protest-opera.html|date=September 11, 1991|access-date=September 23, 2017|newspaper=The New York Times|archive-date=September 24, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170924045154/http://www.nytimes.com/1991/09/11/arts/klinghoffer-daughters-protest-opera.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In response to the controversy Gelb canceled the scheduled worldwide HD video presentation of a performance, but refused demands to cancel the live performances scheduled for October and November 2014.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/music/the-met-the-controversial-opera-and-the-politics-of-protest/2014/10/16/e6c44984-5555-11e4-ba4b-f6333e2c0453_story.html| title=The Met, the opera on the murder of Leon Klinghoffer and the politics of protest| first=Geoff| last=Edgers| date=October 16, 2014| newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]| access-date=January 17, 2018| archive-date=December 11, 2017| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171211161044/https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/music/the-met-the-controversial-opera-and-the-politics-of-protest/2014/10/16/e6c44984-5555-11e4-ba4b-f6333e2c0453_story.html| url-status=live}}</ref> Demonstrators held signs and chanted "Shame on Gelb".<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/arts/la-et-cm-death-of-klinghoffer-protests-20141021-story.html| title='Death of Klinghoffer' goes on at Met Opera House despite protests| first=Steven| last=Zeitchik| newspaper=Los Angeles Times| access-date=January 17, 2018| archive-date=December 6, 2017| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171206005911/http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/arts/la-et-cm-death-of-klinghoffer-protests-20141021-story.html| url-status=live}}</ref>

On April 14, 2016, the company announced the conclusion of Levine's tenure as music director at the conclusion of the 2015–16 season.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/15/arts/music/james-levine-transformative-at-the-met-opera-is-stepping-down.html| title=James Levine, Transformative at the Met Opera, Is Stepping Down| date=April 15, 2016| work=The New York Times| access-date=February 11, 2017| archive-date=April 1, 2017| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170401011304/https://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/15/arts/music/james-levine-transformative-at-the-met-opera-is-stepping-down.html| url-status=live}}</ref> Gelb announced that Levine would also become Music Director Emeritus.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/met-opera-maestro-james-levine-steps-down-1460661409| title=Met Opera Maestro James Levine To Step Down| first=Jennifer| last=Smith| date=April 14, 2016| newspaper=[[The Wall Street Journal]]| url-access=subscription| access-date=March 10, 2017| archive-date=August 10, 2016| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160810180655/http://www.wsj.com/articles/met-opera-maestro-james-levine-steps-down-1460661409| url-status=live}}</ref> On June 2, the Met board announced the appointment of [[Yannick Nézet-Séguin]] as the company's next music director, as of the 2020–2021 season, conducting five productions each season. He took the title of music director-designate, conducting two productions a year, as of the 2017–2018 season.<ref name="wsj_metopera">{{cite web| last1=Smith| first1=Jennifer| title=Met Opera Names Yannick Nézet-Séguin as New Music Director| url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/met-opera-names-yannick-nezet-seguin-as-new-music-director-1464873975| newspaper=The Wall Street Journal| date=June 2, 2016| access-date=June 3, 2016| archive-date=June 3, 2016| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160603053542/http://www.wsj.com/articles/met-opera-names-yannick-nezet-seguin-as-new-music-director-1464873975| url-status=live}}</ref> 

In February 2018, Nézet-Séguin succeeded Levine as music director of the Metropolitan Opera.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/15/arts/music/metropolitan-opera-season-dudamel-kaufmann-netrebko-yannick.html | title=Yannick Nézet-Séguin Will Lead the Met Opera, Two Years Early | work=The New York Times | author=Michael Cooper | date=February 15, 2018 | access-date=February 15, 2018 | archive-date=February 15, 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180215181506/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/15/arts/music/metropolitan-opera-season-dudamel-kaufmann-netrebko-yannick.html | url-status=live }}</ref>  In August 2024, the company announced the extension of Nézet-Séguin's contract as its music director through the 2029–2030 season.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/08/06/arts/music/metropolitan-opera-ring-nezet-seguin-sharon.html | title=The Met Opera Plans a New ''Ring'' With a Familiar Maestro | work=The New York Times | author=Javier C. Hernández | date=August 6, 2024 | access-date=August 7, 2024}}</ref>

In 2017, [[Daniele Rustioni]] first guest-conducted at the Metropolitan Opera.  In November 2024, the company announced the appointment of Rustioni as its next principal guest conductor, effective with the 2025-2026 season, with an initial contract of three seasons.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/13/arts/music/daniele-rustioni-met-opera.html | title=Daniele Rustioni, Fixture at the Met Opera, Will Be Its Guest Conductor | work=The New York Times | author=Javier C. Hernández | date=2024-11-13 | access-date=2024-11-14}}</ref>

====James Levine controversy====
In response to a December 2017 news article, the Met announced that it would investigate Levine with regard to [[sexual abuse]] allegations dating back to the 1980s.  The company suspended its ties with Levine, and canceled all upcoming engagements with him.<ref name="nytimes_20171202">{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/02/arts/music/james-levine-sexual-misconduct-met-opera.html| title=Met Opera to Investigate James Levine Over Sexual Abuse Accusation| journal=The New York Times| date=December 2, 2017| access-date=December 2, 2017| first=Michael| last=Cooper| archive-date=December 3, 2017| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171203222721/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/02/arts/music/james-levine-sexual-misconduct-met-opera.html| url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/03/arts/music/james-levine-met-opera.html| title=Met Opera Suspends James Levine After New Sexual Abuse Accusations| first=Michael| last=Cooper| date=December 3, 2017| newspaper=The New York Times| access-date=December 3, 2017| archive-date=May 16, 2020| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200516011314/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/03/arts/music/james-levine-met-opera.html| url-status=live}}</ref> Gelb had been contacted directly by a police detective in October 2016 about allegations of sexual abuse of a minor by Levine, had been aware of the accuser's abuse allegations since they were made in a 2016 police report and of the attendant police investigation, but did not suspend Levine or launch an investigation until over a year later.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/metropolitan-opera-to-investigate-james-levine-over-sexual-abuse-allegations/2017/12/03/e8820982-d842-11e7-a841-2066faf731ef_story.html| title=Metropolitan Opera suspends James Levine over sexual abuse allegations| first=Anne| last=Midgette| date=December 3, 2017| newspaper=The Washington Post| access-date=December 5, 2017| archive-date=December 4, 2017| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171204233407/https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/metropolitan-opera-to-investigate-james-levine-over-sexual-abuse-allegations/2017/12/03/e8820982-d842-11e7-a841-2066faf731ef_story.html| url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/04/arts/music/james-levine-met-opera.html| title=Met Opera Reels as Fourth Man Accuses James Levine of Sexual Abuse| first=Michael| last=Cooper| newspaper=The New York Times| date=December 3, 2017| access-date=December 5, 2017| archive-date=December 5, 2017| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171205093147/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/04/arts/music/james-levine-met-opera.html| url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/manhattan/met-opera-suspends-james-levine-molestation-claims-article-1.3675177| title=Met Opera suspends James Levine after sex abuse claims dating back to 1960s| first1=Nicole| last1=Hensley| first2=Stephen Rex| last2=Brown| date=December 4, 2017| newspaper=[[New York Daily News]]| access-date=January 18, 2018| archive-date=January 29, 2018| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180129120648/http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/manhattan/met-opera-suspends-james-levine-molestation-claims-article-1.3675177| url-status=live}}</ref>

Following the investigations in March 2018, the Met stated that there was conclusive evidence for "sexually abusive and harassing conduct" by Levine. On March 12, 2018, the company announced the full termination of its relationship with Levine, including the rescinding of his title of music director emeritus and dismissal of him as artistic director of its young artists program.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/12/arts/music/james-levine-metropolitan-opera.html | title=James Levine's Final Act at the Met Ends in Disgrace | work=The New York Times | author=Michael Cooper | date=March 12, 2018 | access-date=March 24, 2018 | archive-date=March 23, 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180323182831/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/12/arts/music/james-levine-metropolitan-opera.html | url-status=live }}</ref> On March 15, 2018, Levine filed suit against the company with the New York State Supreme Court, for breach of contract and defamation, and continued to deny the allegations.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/15/arts/music/metropolitan-opera-james-levine.html | title=James Levine, Fired Over Abuse Allegations, Sues the Met Opera | work=The New York Times | author=Michael Cooper | date=March 15, 2018 | access-date=March 24, 2018 | archive-date=March 21, 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180321161434/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/15/arts/music/metropolitan-opera-james-levine.html | url-status=live }}</ref> In response to the suit, the company has stated:<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/16/arts/music/james-levine-peter-gelb-metropolitan-opera.html | title=James Levine, a Fractured Partnership and a Met Opera Lawsuit | work=The New York Times | author=Michael Cooper | date=March 16, 2018 | access-date=March 24, 2018 | archive-date=March 21, 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180321161249/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/16/arts/music/james-levine-peter-gelb-metropolitan-opera.html | url-status=live }}</ref> "It is shocking that Mr. Levine has refused to accept responsibility for his actions, and has today instead decided to lash out at the Met with a suit riddled with untruths." On August 7, 2019, ''The New York Times'' reported that the Metropolitan Opera and Levine both privately settled their lawsuits. Continuing with the lawsuits "could have put into the public record more details of accusations..."<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/06/arts/music/james-levine-metropolitan-opera.html | title=James Levine and Met Opera Settle Suit Over Sexual Misconduct Firing | work=The New York Times | author=Michael Cooper | date=2019-08-06 | access-date=2025-02-26}}</ref>

====Russia-Ukraine anti-war activism====
On February 28, 2022, Gelb announced that because of the [[Russian invasion of Ukraine]], the Met would be severing ties with all staff and employees who are supporters of Russian President [[Vladimir Putin]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Metropolitan Opera to stop working with artists who have ties to Putin |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/metropolitan-opera-to-stop-working-with-artists-who-have-ties-to-putin/ |access-date=March 5, 2022 |website=www.cbsnews.com |date=February 28, 2022 |language=en-US}}</ref> The same night, before the premiere of Verdi's ''[[Don Carlos]]'', the Met's chorus and orchestra performed the [[national anthem of Ukraine]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/01/arts/music/met-opera-verdi-don-carlos-review.html |title=Review: ''Don Carlos'' Finally Brings French Verdi to the Met |last=Woolfe |first=Zachary|author-link=Zachary Woolfe|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=March 1, 2022 |access-date=March 23, 2022}}</ref> Among the singers was Ukrainian bass-baritone [[Vladyslav Buialskyi]], making his Met debut; footage of him standing center-stage as the only singer without a score and with a hand over his heart was aired by Ukrainian news outlets.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/13/arts/music/met-opera-ukraine-russia.html |title=On a Stage 5,000 Miles Away, He Sings for His Family in Ukraine |last=Hernández |first=Javier C. |newspaper=The New York Times |date=March 13, 2022 |access-date=April 9, 2022}}</ref>

In March 2022, Russian-born soprano [[Anna Netrebko]] made a public statement against the war but failed to explicitly denounce Putin, and was replaced by a Ukrainian singer.<ref>{{Cite news|date=March 3, 2022 |title=Soprano Anna Netrebko withdraws from Met performances rather than renounce Putin |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/mar/03/soprano-anna-netrebko-withdraws-from-met-performances-rather-than-renounce-putin |access-date=March 7, 2022|newspaper=[[The Guardian]]|agency=[[Associated Press]]}}</ref> Netrebko had performed over 200 times at the Met over the past 20 years. Gelb called her dismissal "a great artistic loss for the Met and for opera" adding "but with Putin killing innocent victims in Ukraine there was no way forward" for her to continue to be associated with the Met.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Hernández |first=Javier C. |date=March 3, 2022 |title=Anna Netrebko, Russian Diva, Is Out at the Metropolitan Opera|newspaper=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/03/arts/music/anna-netrebko-met-opera-ukraine.html |access-date=March 5, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=March 3, 2022 |title=Russian soprano Netrebko pulls out of Met Opera over Ukraine |url=https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20220303-russian-soprano-netrebko-pulls-out-of-met-opera-over-ukraine |access-date=March 7, 2022 |website=[[France 24]]}}</ref>

On March 14, the Met hosted a benefit concert with all proceeds going to relief efforts in Ukraine, with [[Sergiy Kyslytsya]], the [[Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the United Nations]] in attendance.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/15/arts/music/met-opera-ukraine.html |title=Review: With Anthems and Flags, the Met Opera Plays for Ukraine |last=Woolfe |first=Zachary|author-link=Zachary Woolfe|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=March 15, 2022 |access-date=March 23, 2022}}</ref> The concert, which was broadcast on worldwide radio including Ukrainian public radio, began with Buialskyi singing the national anthem of Ukraine as a soloist.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-entertainment-arts-and-entertainment-philanthropy-opera-88f9c4d47e0f50f43d18a99f9e658fd9 |title=Metropolitan Opera holds special benefit concert for Ukraine |last=Blum |first=Ronald |website=[[Associated Press]]|date=March 16, 2022 |access-date=April 9, 2022}}</ref>

In December 2022, the Metropolitan Opera website was a target of a [[ransomware]] attack, with a "speculation that Russia could be behind the cyberattack". Gelb rejected that rumor.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Bilefsky |first=Dan|author-link=Dan Bilefsky|date=December 14, 2022 |title=A Cyberattack Shuts the Met Opera's Box Office, but the Show Goes On|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/12/14/arts/music/met-opera-cyberattack.html |access-date=December 22, 2022}}</ref>

To mark the one-year anniversary of the invasion of Ukraine, the Met Opera held a concert entitled "For Ukraine: A Concert of Remembrance and Hope" on February 24, 2023. The company's music director, [[Yannick Nézet-Séguin]], led the Met Orchestra and Chorus in a program of Mozart's [[Requiem (Mozart)|Requiem]] and Beethoven's [[Symphony No. 5 (Beethoven)|Fifth Symphony]]. Ukraine's ambassador to the United Nations, [[Sergiy Kyslytsya]], said, "This is a concert in celebration of Ukrainian resilience and hope. The Metropolitan Opera was among the first to show solidarity with Ukraine, its people, culture, and artists, and it has continued to do so throughout the past year of this tragic invasion. We're proud to work with the Met to promote a just peace." He added, "All wars come to an end, but we will always remember who was with us from the first, most difficult, moments."<ref>{{Cite web|type=press release|date=January 20, 2023 |title=For Ukraine: A Concert of Remembrance and Hope to be presented by the Metropolitan Opera on the one-year anniversary of the invasion Friday, February 24, at 7PM ET |url=https://www.metopera.org/about/press-releases/for-ukraine-a-concert-of-remembrance-and-hope-to-be-presented-by-the-metropolitan-opera-on-the-one-year-anniversary-of-the-war-friday-february-24-at-7pm-et/ |website=metopera.org}}</ref>