Peter Gelb Paid $2.1 Million As MET Opera Deficit Balloons

"The Metropolitan Opera disclosed on Friday that its general manager, Peter Gelb, earned a total of $2.1 million in salary and benefits in 2013 but said a pay cut he took last year remains in effect. Mr. Gelb’s 2013 compensation was detailed in a tax filing released by the Met at the close of a challenging period marked by labor strife and financial setbacks. The opera company’s operating budget for the 2013-14 season was $315 million, down about 3.5% from the previous season. Its deficit ballooned in the same period, rising to $22 million from $2.8 million. In December, Moody’s Investors Service downgraded the Met’s credit rating, citing a 'marked decline in liquidity' and the company’s increased reliance on an operating line of credit. Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services affirmed the company’s 'A' bond rating in April but revised its

Juan Diego Flórez Raises Over $100K For Peru At Vienna Concert

Vittorio Grigolo and Aida Garifullina join Juan Diego Flórez for a worthy cause in Vienna.

"The audience filled the Vienna State Opera and applauded tenor Juan Diego Florez enthusiastically and often during a benefit concert he gave on behalf of 'Sinfonia por el Peru,' the foundation he created in 2011 to help poor children in his homeland. Sources at the Viennese theater told Efe that the box office would easily surpass 100,000 euros ($106,000), from which only technical costs would have to be deducted, since all the artists donated their services. 'It's a dream come true that we can now say Sinfonia por el Peru is going so well it's changing the lives of many, many children in Peru,' Florez told Efe during one of the rehearsals before the gala performance. The tenor noted that big international opera stars would share the stage with young musicians from different social programs around the world, all motivated by the concept of transforming society through music. The gala served to present the Friends of Juan Diego Florez, an association created to support Sinfonia por el Peru and similar projects. Among those friends were Cecilia Bartoli, Russian soprano Aida Garifullina, tenor Celso Albelo and baritone Michele Pertusi, among others. Unfortunately absent was soprano Anna Netrebko, who announced Saturday that she would be unable to take part in the gala. Sinfonia por el Peru's 15 branches in different parts of the country are teaching some 2,500 children and young people living in unfavorable conditions to use music as a way to escape poverty, violence and child labor." [Source]

Austria's "Life Ball" To Host A Galaxy Of (Opera) Stars Tonight

Anna Netrebko and Piotr Beczała perform at last year's gala concert for Life Ball.

"Tickets for the Red Ribbon Celebration Concert 2014 presented by Novomatic available on www.burgtheater.at or www.culturall.com! Stars of the opera like Anna Netrebko, Vesselina Kasarova, Jennifer O'Loughlin, Juan Diego Flórez, Piotr Beczała, Yusif Eyvazov, Luca Pisaroni, Ambrogio Maestri and Ildar Abdrazakov lend their voices to the good cause. The soloists are accompanied by the ORF Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra conducted by Cornelius Meister. Fashion icon Vivienne Westwood will create the stage design of the concert. Red Ribbon Celebration Concert 2014 - May 30, 2014, concert beginning: 8 p.m. at Burgtheater, Universitätsring 2, 1010 Vienna." More information about the star power attending the event, as well as photos from this year's theme Garten der Lüste [including the NSFW David LaChapelle posters....], after the jump.

Kathleen Battle Continues Alicia Keys Collaboration In New York City

Alicia Keys (left) with Kathleen Battle in 2008 after performing together at the Black Ball.
Opera star Kathleen Battle has been working alongside popular songstress Alicia Keys since 2007 to help raise money for a worthy cause. This Thursday, November 7, the pair will be on the stage together once again for the Keep a Child Alive Foundation's 10th Black Ball. "An inspiring evening of music and philanthropy to benefit children and families affected by HIV in Africa and India." This year's event will also feature performances by Carole King, Laura Mvula, Ron Ayers, and others to be announced. The show takes place at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City. The Black Ball has raised over $18.4 million since 2004. [Source] Watch performances of the two ladies from previous years, after the jump.

When Sunny Gets Blue: Renée Fleming Joins Jazz Greats

Blue Note Jazz Benefit for Japan takes place on April 18 at the Highline Ballroom and will feature Renée Fleming, Madeleine Peyroux, Joe Lovano, Regina Carter, Karrin Allyson, Don Byron, Paquito D'Rivera, Sonny Fortune, Antonio Hart, Eldar Djangirov, Eddie Gomez, Janis Siegel, & many more! "100% of the ticket proceeds to be donated to the Japan Relief and Recovery Fund spearheaded by Direct Relief." 

Concert starts at 7PM/Doors open at 6PM/Tickets $45.00 in advance/$55.00 day of show. [Source]

Jessye Norman Supports Gay Men's Health Crisis

Miss Norman with Elizabeth Peabody

The GMHC hosted a culinary event, SAVOR, on March 7 to honor Joan Tisch who is the inaugural recipient of the Judith Peabody Humanitarian Award and raise money for the organization. The opera diva Jessye Norman joined the crowd of philanthropists and business leaders gathered at Gotham Hall in New York City for an evening that included "a specially designed four-course dinner menu from some of New York’s most celebrated chefs, including François Payard of François Payard Bakery, Carmen Quagliata of Union Square Cafe, Peter Hoffman of Savoy, and Stephen Lewandowski of Tribeca Grill." The Judith Peabody Humanitarian Award was created to honor the

Richard Teller & Diva

30-year fight against AIDS by the award's namesake. Her daughter, Elizabeth Peabody, was on hand to bestow the award to Joan Tisch. Guests of the evening included Fiona and Eric Rudin, Connie Chung and Maury Povich, Patricia and John Rosenwald, Mickey Rolfe, Gillian Miniter, Debra Scherer, and Trent Preszler. A whopping $650,000 was raised to beneift the GMHC in HIV/AIDS prevention, care and advocacy. [Source, Source]