In an interview for the classical music platform BackstageClassical (also available as a podcast), Peter Gelb, General Manager of the Metropolitan Opera in New York, warns of the far-reaching consequences of Donald Trump’s presidency for the cultural sector and urges European institutions to remain vigilant.
Peter Gelb sees the cultural landscape in the United States as fundamentally changed by Donald Trump’s time in office and strongly cautions European cultural institutions against similar threats. In the BackstageClassical interview, Gelb emphasizes that the Trump era has had “massive consequences” for the American cultural scene. According to Gelb, the situation in the United States is “very complicated.”
A central issue, he notes, is the significant decline in international tourism following Trump’s inauguration. Gelb states that 17 percent fewer visitors came to New York, and the number of Canadian tourists even dropped by 75 percent. For the Metropolitan Opera, which relied on international guests for 20 percent of its pre-pandemic audience, this led to considerable financial losses.
Even more serious, in Gelb’s view, was the effective elimination of federal funding for the arts shortly after the change in administration. Although the Met received only a very small portion of its budget from federal sources, for smaller arts organizations across the country, these cuts were “devastating.” Gelb also senses a “creeping feeling that artistic freedom is under threat.” As an example, he cites the Kennedy Center, which is under government control and thus subject to political influence.
Gelb regards artistic freedom as a cornerstone of democracy and warns of its erosion amid the global rise of autocratic governments. “We must not allow artistic freedom to be damaged or destroyed,” he insists. The Met sees itself as a symbol of cultural democracy and freedom of expression. Especially in times of growing autocracy, it is important for opera to convey a democratic message.
With a view to Europe, Gelb warns that right-wing populism and nationalism could also threaten culture there. Many European houses are heavily dependent on government funding. “If these funds suddenly disappear, they will face serious difficulties,” Gelb cautions. He refers to an incident in England, where a culture minister was criticized for attending an opera performance—a sign of the widening gap between politics and culture.
Gelb advises European institutions to act prudently and responsibly, not out of fear or by compromising artistic ideals. The Met has become a “global opera society” through cinema broadcasts and radio transmissions. The largest audience for these broadcasts is in the US, with Germany in second place. Although audience numbers have dropped since the pandemic, efforts are being made to win them back. Gelb stresses that art should not preach but tell relevant stories and stand for truth and freedom—especially at a time when democracy and cultural diversity are under pressure.
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