Metropolitan Opera Guild to Cease Operations, Ending Stand-Alone Opera News Magazine

Metropolitan Opera Guild to Cease Operations and Lay Off Staff

The Metropolitan Opera Guild, a nonprofit organization that has supported the Metropolitan Opera and published the magazine Opera News, announced on Tuesday that it will wind down its operations and lay off its staff due to financial troubles. The guild, founded in 1935 to help the Met during the Great Depression, has been instrumental in supporting the opera house and its education programs.

One of the guild’s notable contributions has been bringing thousands of schoolchildren to dress rehearsals each year, fostering interest in opera among young audiences. Additionally, Opera News, a stand-alone monthly magazine published by the guild, has become one of the leading classical music publications in the United States.

However, the guild’s financial struggles have led to the decision to cease publication of Opera News as a stand-alone magazine. Instead, the magazine will continue in a different format as part of a new section in Opera magazine, a British publication focused on the United States. The new section will bear the Opera News logo and will be sent to guild members and Opera News subscribers in the United States.

Winthrop Rutherfurd Jr., the Guild’s chairman, and Richard J. Miller Jr., its president, expressed their gratitude for the efforts of the guild’s employees over the years but stated that it is no longer economically viable to continue in the current form. As a result, the guild will be reclassified as a supporting organization under the Met and will no longer operate as an independent nonprofit.

The guild plans to provide severance to its 20 employees, and it expects the Met to hire some of them. Board members of the guild will also be offered positions on the Met’s board. The guild’s membership program, which offers benefits such as subscriptions to Opera News and access to dress rehearsals, will continue under the Met’s oversight.

The financial pressures faced by the guild are reflective of the challenges experienced by nonprofit performing arts companies, including the Met. Peter Gelb, the Met’s general manager, stated that efforts were made to find a way forward that would allow some of the guild’s programs to continue, even if the guild itself would not continue in its current structure.

The partnership with Opera magazine, which will replace Opera News, will begin in December. The Met will not have editorial input but will provide a share of fees paid by guild members to help offset the magazine’s production costs, as it did with Opera News. John Allison, the editor and publisher of Opera, assured that the coverage of opera at the Met and throughout the United States will remain comprehensive.

The news of the guild’s demise has raised concerns among opera fans, who see it as another sign of the struggles faced by the art form. Many expressed their sadness and surprise at the changes, particularly the end of the stand-alone Opera News, which has been an institution for discovering young American singers.

The Metropolitan Opera Guild’s decision to cease operations and lay off staff highlights the financial challenges faced by nonprofit arts organizations, particularly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. As the opera industry continues to navigate these difficulties, it is crucial to find innovative solutions to ensure the longevity and accessibility of this beloved art form.

What steps is the Metropolitan Opera Guild taking to address the financial struggles faced by the organization and ensure the future sustainability of opera?

Ill focus on fundraising and other support services for the opera house.

The decision to wind down the guild’s operations was not taken lightly. The financial struggles faced by the organization were exacerbated by the ongoing pandemic, which has severely impacted the performing arts industry. The closure of theaters and cancellation of performances have had a significant impact on the Met’s finances, leading to a reduction in funding available to the guild.

Despite this challenging situation, the guild remains committed to its mission of supporting the Met and ensuring the future of opera. By reclassifying as a supporting organization, the guild will be able to focus on fundraising efforts and providing vital support services to the opera house. These efforts will include educational programs, community engagement initiatives, and other activities to promote and sustain opera in the United States.

While the guild’s decision to cease publication of Opera News as a standalone magazine is disappointing, the new partnership with Opera magazine presents an opportunity to continue sharing opera-related news and content with a broader audience. The Opera News section in Opera magazine will maintain the high-quality journalism and coverage that readers have come to expect.

Overall, the Metropolitan Opera Guild’s decision to wind down its operations is a difficult but necessary step to ensure the long-term sustainability of the organization. By refocusing its efforts as a supporting organization, the guild will continue to play a vital role in promoting and supporting the Metropolitan Opera, its education programs, and the art of opera as a whole.