"I think we were too aggressive in our pricing this season, " said Peter Gelb, the Met's general manager.

WSJ: Metropolitan Opera Ticket Prices Set to Drop

The life of the professional Peter Gelb may be controversial, but the personal life of Peter Gelb seems pretty sweet.

WSJ: Drinking Wine With Peter Gelb

The first time Peter Gelb went to the Metropolitan Opera was in 1967, a year after the company had moved from its old theatre, on Thirty-ninth Street, to Lincoln Center.

NEWYORKER: Man Behind the Curtain

Should Mr. Levine be unable to conduct on any given night, an assistant conductor would be ready to step in a standard protocol for all Met performances, regardless of the maestro, said general manager Peter Gelb.

WSJ: Met Opera Maestro James Levine Marks Return in Small Steps

In the company's first season without Wagner since anti-German sentiment in 1918-19 caused by World War I, the Met will present six new-to-New York productions, the fewest since Peter Gelb's first season as general manager in 2006-07.

WSJ: Met cuts ticket prices following box office slump

Met general manager Peter Gelb said in an announcement from the stage that de Niese was in the New York area and planned to watch the performance from his box, and that he called her Tuesday morning and asked her to sing instead.

WSJ: De Niese steps into Met 'Cesare' on short notice

"We typically engage a singer who has sung the role before, " said general manager Peter Gelb, for the simple reason that when singers are comfortable in a role, they're better able to handle the pressure and the sheer size of the Met Opera House.

WSJ: Culture City: One Small Stumble on the Stage, One Giant Step to Stardom