Several of you cher public have been kind enough to forward to me an email from Peter Gelb offering the Met’s apology for the debacle of the first day of subscriber ticket exchanges. Though La Cieca has sneered a bit at the Buoso Donati contingent, she certainly can understand why loyal subscribers might feel that this email is somewhat “too little, too late.” It does seem that so sweeping a change in the exchange system could have been handled more transparently, and, more to the point, more consistently.

La Cieca has heard numerous complaints that subscribers were given conflicting information by Met personnel, especially about trades involving the more in-demand new productions like Thaïs and La rondine.  At this point there doesn’t seem to be any evidence that there was a concerted effort by the Met to hold these tickets back for later single sale, but when the policy is not made crystal-clear and observed consistently, there’s always the chance of the perception that something underhanded is going on.

In a way, Gelb reminds La Cieca of New York’s dear Mayor Michael Bloomberg in that both these gentlemen transitioned from the private sector, where leaders can get away with acting in a rather dictatorial fashion, into a more public arena where one has to be careful not to come off like a bully. Of course, the dictatorial style is handy for getting things done quickly and efficiently, but sometimes at the expense of long-term goodwill. Mayor Bloomberg has learned, La Cieca thinks, to moderate his tactics so that his leadership feels more like it’s based on consensus. Mr. Gelb might benefit from emulating the mayor’s newfound management style.

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