Metropolitan Opera Faces Financial Difficulties

New York's Metropolitan Opera House faced a difficult financial year in 2009, due to recession and rising expenses, the Washington Times reports. 

Due to such financial difficulties, the Met is working to cut expenses and to increase revenue.  The Met's practices include delaying a salary increase for stagehands until the 2010-2011, using gifts from donors to help with expenses, and replacing large-scale revivals with items from the opera's traditional repertory. 

Despite financial troubles, the Met's general manager, Peter Gelb, says that last season's productions brought in large audiences and that the popular live broadcasts of performances are also bringing in money.  Gelb adds, "The Met has managed through difficult times in the past.  Now, by increasing the public's interest in opera with our recent artistic successes and public initiatives, we are confident that we will thrive in the future, as well."

Photo courtesy of Metropolitan Opera