We hear that around fifty staff members of the Metropolitan Opera were fired yesterday, including some fairly senior administrators.

Some victims were told that Peter Gelb had to make $20 million worth of cuts after a fundraising failure last year.

No mention was made of the Met’s box office decline to well below 70 percent, or the continuing drift of a once-loyal audience to suburban Live from the Met screenings.

It is understood that most of the sacked staff are non-union. Many have not received a pay rise in eight years.

Gelb, by internal calculations, is working to a revised budget of $280 million.

Not a happy way to start the season.

If you are one of the people sacked, do get in touch with your reaction – anonymously, if you like.

UPDATE: One sacked director is named.

2nd UPDATE: What will Gelb cut next?