Anti-terror police race to anthrax alert after opera lover’s ashes are thrown into orchestra pit

New York – A man sparked an anthrax scare after scattering an opera-lover’s ashes into the orchestra pit at New York’s Metropolitan Opera House.

The incident occurred during a performance of Rossini’s Guillaume Tell and forced the cancellation of the rest of the show as well as an evening performance of a second opera.

John Miller, the New York Police Department’s deputy commissioner in charge of intelligence and counter-terrorism , said several audience members revealed a man told them he was there to sprinkle the ashes of a friend, his mentor in the opera.  The man then sprinkled the powder into the orchestra pit during the second intermission when most of the musicians were not present. He said the powder will be tested, but the possibility that it was in fact human ashes “is certainly an area that we are pursuing”. Police know who the man is adding that the man does not live in New York.

He said the disposal of ashes at an opera house may violate city codes but added: “I don’t believe at this point that we see any criminal intent here.”

Met General Manager Peter Gelb said, “We appreciate opera lovers coming to the Met. We hope that they will not bring their ashes with them.”

One opera lover said, “I can’t believe anyone would scatter ashes at the opera. They would just be vacuumed up before the next performance.”

Another said, “It’s too bad because most of the best music in Guillaume Tell is in Act 4, in my opinion.” Guillaume Tell, Rossini’s opera about folk hero William Tell, had not been performed at the M The opera’s overture is known to many Americans as the theme music to the 1950s TV show The Lone Ranger.

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