Metropolitan Opera 2013-14 Update: Peter Gelb Will Not Dedicate Opening to LGBT Community

Peter Gelb will not dedicate the opening night of the Metropolitan Opera to the LGBT community.

The Met's General Manager sent out a press statement saying that while he was against the oppressed homosexual community in Russia, he thought it was not the Metropolitan Opera Company's responsibility to make a political statement. He said: "While I'm confident that many members of our company join me in personally deploring the tyranny of Russia's new anti-gay laws, we're also opposed to the laws of the 76 countries that go even further than Russia in the outright criminalization of homosexuality.We stand against the significant human rights abuses that take place every day in many countries. But as an arts institution, the Met is not the appropriate vehicle for waging nightly battles against the social injustices of the world."

Gelb also said that he respected those who desired to picket on opening night as long as it was to raise awareness. He concluded that the Met was happy to present the greatest gay composer that ever lived. "We respect the right of activists to picket our opening night and we realize that we've provided them with a platform to further raise awareness about serious human rights issues abroad. As they watch our performance on the giant screen on the facade of the opera house, we hope that they will be moved by Tchaikovsky's soaring melodies and telling drama. Although Russia may officially be in denial about Tchaikovsky's sexuality, we're not. The Met is proud to present Russia's great gay composer. That is a message, in itself," he said. 

Back in August, an online petition asked the Met to dedicate the opening night performance to the LGBT community. The petition also objected to the company employing Russian conductor Valery Gergiev and Russian soprano Anna Netrebko because the two artists had supported Russian President Vladimir Putin in the past.

The Met's performance will go on as planned with Netrebko and Gergiev still performing on Sept. 23.