The Met 'machine'

In an interview with The New York Times’ Anthony Tommasini, Peter Gelb, general manager of the Metropolitan Opera, wonders aloud whether “the machine,” Robert Lepage’s 45-ton mechanized set built for Wagner’s “Ring” cycle, which proved to be noisy and operationally fitful when the company staged individual installments, will function properly now that three full cycles of the four music dramas are to be presented at the house, beginning on April 7:

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/04/arts/music/peter-gelb-on-wagners-ring-cycle-at-met-opera.html?_r=1&hpw

The issue is of interest far beyond New York, as the Met has scheduled telecasts of the Lepage “Ring” cycle from May 5-12 in movie theaters worldwide.