Dallas Man Apologizes For Sprinkling His Friend's Ashes At The Met
NEW YORK (AP) -- The opera lover who sparked a scare at the Metropolitan Opera by scattering his mentor's ashes in the orchestra pit has apologized for his actions.
Dallas resident Roger Kaiser said in a letter Wednesday that he promised a cancer-stricken friend in 2012 that he would scatter the friend's ashes at various opera houses after his death.
The Met halted a performance of Rossini's "Guillaume Tell" Saturday after some musicians reported seeing Kaiser sprinkle a powdery substance into the orchestra pit. A later performance of another opera was also canceled as police investigated.
Kaiser wrote to Met general manager Peter Gelb and the Met community that his "sweet gesture to a dying friend" went "completely and utterly wrong."
Gelb responded that he appreciates the innocence of Kaiser's intentions, "even if misguided."
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