Hugh Southern, GM of the Met, Resigns

In a mysterious move that stunned the music world Friday, Hugh Southern, general manager of the Metropolitan Opera, abruptly resigned his post for unexplained reasons effective July 1. Southern, 58, a former official of the National Endowment for the Arts in Washington, had held the position only since November.

“I have been reluctant to make such a choice, but I have become aware over the course of the season that I have not found fulfillment at the Met,” Southern stated in a press release. “I, therefore, felt it would not be fair or productive to continue.”

Mrs. Gilbert W. Humphrey, president of the Met Board of Directors, responded: “We are very sorry he will not be continuing, but we understand his feelings and wish him well in his endeavors.”

Southern was unavailable for further comment, but an official of the company who requested anonymity said, “There were some actions which he (Southern) took that the board did not like. A settlement of the contract was made after negotiations.”

Coming to the Met last fall, Southern brought credentials that included 14 years as executive director of the Theater Development Fund in New York City, and a background in theater production. Like ad executive and former Met general manager Bruce Crawford before him, Southern was seen as a top manager who could oversee financial matters while artistic director James Levine took the lead in aesthetic decisions.

Southern, a native of England who won the Met job despite being a dark horse candidate, was paid a reported yearly salary of $350,000 for a three-year contract. He succeeded Crawford, former head of the advertising firm of BBD&O;, who left the Met to become chief executive officer of Omnicom.

Crawford, in his three years as head of the Met, the nation’s largest opera company, was credited by many with bringing financial stability to the company.

There was no indication when a new general manager might be appointed.