Raymond Gniewek, 1931–2021

The Metropolitan Opera mourns the death of Raymond Gniewek, who served as concertmaster of the Met Orchestra for 43 years from 1957 to 2000. Having joined the Met at the age of 25, Ray was the longest serving concertmaster in our 138-year history. He was an extraordinary musician whose leadership was crucial to the transformation of the orchestra into the top ranks of the world’s symphonic ensembles. As a soloist, Ray’s virtuosic talent was on display in operas such as Massenet’s Thaïs, with its famed “Meditation,” and Verdi’s I Lombardi, in the prelude to its famous final-act trio, but also in numerous concert performances by the Met Orchestra and the Met Chamber Ensemble. Ray was both highly esteemed as an artist and deeply loved by those with whom he worked, most particularly his colleagues in the orchestra. The many conductors who stood on the Met podium, both celebrated and lesser known, depended on Ray’s command of the repertory and supportive leadership. The respect he earned from every part of the Met company was unsurpassed. Even though he retired in 2000, his legacy lives on in the high standards and outstanding quality of our orchestra today. We offer our sincerest condolences to his wife, Judith Blegen, another long-time member of the Met family, his daughter Susan Law, his stepson Tom Singher, his sister Cecilia Brauer, also a member of the Met Orchestra for many seasons, his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and his many friends.