The Times is reporting that The Met has ended its unofficial policy of giving Ringtards (or Ringnuts or Ringheads or whatever you want to call the mass of fanatics who roam the world in search of the latest iteration of Wagner’s “Ring” cycle) priority access to future productions of the operatic tetralogy.

Needless to say, peeps are pissed.

Gelb doesn’t sound very sympathetic, calling Ring fans “very emotional.”

One of the disgruntled Wagnerites found a loophole to get early access without having to shell out $2,000; for $90 you get the cheapest subscription and six Family Circle seats to non-Ring operas during the season.

Ya know, C.C.’s philosophically against patron priority policies in general. They perpetuate the the idea that the arts aren’t for everyone. Shouldn’t those who are genuinely passionate about a particular art or artist get first crack? And are patron services programs merely an extension of upper class “help”, handling the cultural schedules of those whose “charitable donations” may help make the art possible, but also demand preferential treatment in return. This kind of philanthropy has always felt sketchy to me. But an appealing alternative has yet to come to mind.