On setting an example

“An example had to be set,” said Mr. Gelb, whose salary is now $1.3 million. “As the head of the institution, I felt it necessary that it begin with me.”

So reports the NYT in the Gray Lady's heartbreaking story of how hard times have hit New York's culturaterai. Peter Gelb is head of the Metropolitan Opera, and he has cut his salary twice, though it still has two commas in it. He's not the only one: the Met is part of Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, whose director gets (I am reluctant to say earns) $1,180,000 a year. At the other Met--the one with paintings on the walls--the director took home $2,700,000 a couple years ago, though that included a one-time bonus and the value of his rent-free apartment next door to the museum. After two cuts, he apparently now gets something on the order of $1,300,000. Blue skies! -- Dan Ford