Layoffs news: New York’s iconic Met Opera to fire nearly 10% administrative staff amid financial strain

New York’s Metropolitan Opera on Tuesday announced a series of layoffs as it continues to face financial difficulties while taking other serious financial steps over the past five years.

Other measures announced by the Met include cutting the salaries of its highest-paid employees and postponing a new production from next season.

According to a report by the New York Times, the opera house will lay off 22 of its administrative staff out of 284 people working in these roles, accounting for about 10% of the department’s total number of employees.

Salary cuts and other cost-cutting measures

Layoffs at the Met Opera will be accompanied by pay cuts for senior executives, including general manager Peter Gelb, according to the NYT report and a separate report from The Guardian.

35 top executives, including Gelb, who earned a salary of $1.4 million in 2024 and earned more than $150,000, will see their salaries cut between 4% and 15% as part of cost-cutting measures.

(This is a developing story, check for updates)