Peter Gelb Stages a Worthy Debut at the Metropolitan Opera

Major cultural institutions are not noted for their agility with change. Board structures, subscribers’ tastes, administrative ballast, and the sheer tyranny of favored practices cause many symphonies, museums, and theatre companies to lumber on like corporate giants rather than the vital entities they need to be, ready to turn on a dime to freshen artistic vision. Large opera companies tend to be even more unwieldy, given the multi-year planning process needed to plot future seasons, engage singers, assemble production teams, and secure funding support.