Glad Tidings for the Metropolitan Opera

Peter Gelb, the Met's general manager, and Ann Ziff. Photo from The New York Times.

Comes the news today that Ann Ziff has given the Metropolitan Opera here in New York a gift of $30 million. You may remember Ann Ziff – she is a friend of Bart Boehlert's Beautiful Things and a wonderful jewelry designer whose jewelry collection Tamsen Z was featured here on Dec. 3.

The New York Times reports that this is the largest single gift from an individual in the history of the Met, and that Ms. Ziff made it unrestricted, so that the Met can spend it any way it wishes. General Manager Peter Gelb says, "It came at a time when the Met is sorely in need of cash."

Just the other night, TD was marveling at the wonder that is the Metropolitan Opera, an institution which mounts different spectacular world class operas every day, except for Sundays, and sometimes two a day, over its long season, from September through May. We enjoyed so much our trip to the Met in January to see Der Rosenkavalier, and want to return again soon. Ann Ziff says, "I think perhaps the Met is the greatest...arts organization in the world."

Ann Ziff grew up in New York City, and her mother was Harriet Henders, a soprano who performed with conductor Arturo Toscanini, reports The Times. Ann married William B Ziff, Jr., the impresario behind Ziff-Davis Publishing, and they had three sons. William Ziff died in 2006, and now Ann is secretary of the Met's board and will become chairwoman next year.

She is also a gifted jewelry designer who sells her work to a private clientele. She told me that she will be opening a story on Madison Avenue this spring; I want to find out how that is progressing. Her specialty is combining unexpected colors and materials together for striking creations which were exciting to me. Here is a shot of her designs. I think Marella Agnelli would like her work, don't you? (See previous post.)


Ann Ziff is putting her artistic talent, and her money, to good use to create beautiful things. Three cheers for that.