!['Fire,' 1st work at Met by Black composer as company returns](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/3X_MPrG-ZfZjDIDd8Xn5QRjHqSc=/800x533/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/G6X3VMLL7JDTNPBOF6EG6QPCWE.jpg)
'Fire,' 1st work at Met by Black composer as company returns
โFire Shut Up in My Bonesโ became the first work by a Black composer in the 138-year history of the Metropolitan Opera as the company presented its first staged performance since March 2000 following a gap caused by the coronavirus.
![Met Opera $31M in black in 2019-20 as pandemic starts](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/RPvfOLsOe7qovftCdj5PsC6E1BE=/800x533/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65):fill(FFF)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/POA3YKZH5VCQ3GDHTSGGVEUCEE.jpg)
Met Opera $31M in black in 2019-20 as pandemic starts
The Metropolitan Opera showed a tax return revealing it is $31 million in the black during the fiscal year that ended last July 31, but the company said the figure included mostly pledges for future years.
![James Levine, who ruled over Met Opera, dead at age 77](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/Ppv5beqWp_yKHjoAMfTdsrR63Go=/1600x1079/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/3OD2RMCD6RDMDIMIELRLFWDILE.jpg)
James Levine, who ruled over Met Opera, dead at age 77
FILE - Boston Symphony Orchestra music director James Levine conducts the symphony on its opening night performance at Tanglewood in Lenox, Mass. โNo artist in the 137 year history of the Met had as profound an impact as James Levine,โ Gelb said in a statement. In one instance, the Met accused Levine of inappropriately touching a musician starting in 1979 and six more times until 1991. The following February, he became principal conductor for the Metโs 1973-74 season, assisting music director Rafael Kubelik, and became music director with the 1976-77 season. Levine was downgraded to music director when he joined the Boston Symphony Orchestra in 2004.
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Nzet-Sguin got $392,152 in initial part of 1st Met season
NEW YORK Yannick Nzet-Sguins earned $392,152 during his first portion of his first season as the Metropolitan Opera's music director, about a quarter of what James Levine earned in his last full season as music director emeritus. Levine was music or artistic director from 1976-2016, then became music director emeritus after the 2016-17 season. Nzet-Sguin started as music director in 2018-19, two years ahead of schedule, and conducted three operas. His full-time duties as music director dont begin until next season, Met general manager Peter Gelb said. Nzet-Sguin earned $1,380,667 from the Philadelphia Orchestra, where he also is music director, in the return for the year ending Aug. 31, 2018.