Met Soprano Eva Marton Cancels 2 ‘Salomes’

Soprano Eva Marton has abruptly canceled her two remaining performances of Richard Strauss’ “Salome,” scheduled next week at the Metropolitan Opera. At the same time she told Met management she would not sing Brunnhilde in two “Ring” cycles planned for next season.

Though she claimed “illness” for canceling her Salomes, the Hungarian singer was reportedly upset that the company had asked her to give up one of the “Ring” cycles next season so that German soprano Hildegard Behrens could sing the role for an international telecast.

Met press director David Reuben said that since “Die Walkure, the second opera in the cycle, was to be taped at the end of this season with Behrens, it was decided by management that it would be artistically preferable to have the same Brunnhilde for the remaining operas of the tetralogy, “Siegfried” and “Gotterdammerung.”

Behrens, who was not scheduled for any “Ring” appearances next season, was found to be free, and Marton was asked to withdraw, but with full payment of her fee, according to Reuben. Another cycle, not to be telecast, was offered to Marton, he said, but she refused.

The soprano’s husband, Dr. Zoltan Marton, who negotiates his wife’s Met contracts, claims no such offer was made.

In a prepared statement, he said, “The contract was made two years ago. Jonathan Friend (the Met’s artistic administrator) told me ‘perhaps’ television would be involved. This was the understanding for such past telecasts as (those of) ‘Turandot,’ ‘Lohengrin’ and ‘Tannhauser.’

“We have not decided as yet to accept the fact that they will break the contract but still pay us. More than money is involved here,” Dr. Marton said.

Further complicating matters is the fact that Deutsche Grammophon (DG) will complete recording the Met’s “Ring” cycle this spring with Behrens, and has also agreed to license the telecasts for video disc. Marton is recording her own “Ring” for rival company EMI Angel.

Allison Ames, Deutsche Grammophon’s artists and repertory manager in New York, said that the company has never dictated personnel to any organization it records. Ames acknowledged that discussions with officials in Hamburg could have taken place.

Reuben declared that the German company had no hand in its decision, that the casting action was taken solely by the Met’s outgoing general manager Bruce Crawford, music director James Levine and Friend.

Met management has complained that casting is difficult because many European artists do not honor their contracts.

Responding, Dr. Marton quoted his wife, “I love the New York public and will honor my future Met commitments . . . To me a contract is a contract.”