>> simon: the phrase "the greatest show on earth" usually refers to the circus, but a man named peter gelbo runs the metropolitan opera in new york city, is doing everything he can to change that. there's no other place where you can see such monumental staging, elaborate sets, and a cast of hundreds. but the met is, above all, about extraordinary voices, some of the best voices in the world. tonight, we're going to take you backstage at the met and show it to you in a way you've never seen it before. >> kroft: i'm steve kroft. >> stahl: i'm lesley stahl. >> safer: i'm morley safer. >> simon: i'm bob simon. >> rose: i'm charlie rose. >> pelley: i'm scott pelley. those stories tonight on "60 minutes." the next big thing is here. dad: he's our broker. he helps looks after all our money. kid: do you pay him? dad: of course. kid: how much? dad: i don't know exactly. kid: what if you're not happy? does he have to pay you back? dad: nope. kid: why not? dad: it doesn't work that way. kid: why not? vo: are you asking enough questions about the way your wealth is managed? wealth management at charl

he has little faith in the figures quoted by peter gelb? has been saying a lot of different things in the press without giving much substantiation for them and the fact that we have been asking for clarification for months now with no response leads us to be skeptical about what's going on. >> their is skept simply over the management's lavish spending like this 169,000 dollar poppy field built for a recent production of prince egor. critics say it's time for both sides to give way. >> this means, prograerhaps som flexibility on union agreements. but, also, cuts in management salary for senior management. they have to do it. secondly, budgeting in a realistic way so that you bring down the annual budget and you build up the endowment. it's the only way to save the met. >> similar budget battles have forced other opera companies to close. but here at the met, neither side appears willing to compromise. staff contracts are due to expire at the end of the month leaving opera fans to wonder if the show will go on. kristin salumy, new york. >> i

general manager peter gelb said it will go bankrupt in two years without spending cuts.abor costs account for two-thirds of the the best of my knowledge. he wants the unions to take a 16% pay cut and change rules that guarantee them payment for four performances per week. that struck the wrong tone with staff and musicians like westin sprott. by his union's estimates, the cuts are as high as 350,0007% when you include changes to healthcare, 6 leave and pensions. he has little faith in the figures quoted by peter gelb. >> he has been saying a lot of different things in the press without giving much substantiation for them and the fact that we have been offering for clarification for months now with no response leads us to be skeptical about what's really going on. >> there is skipcism over the management's lavish spending like this 169,000 poppy field built for a recent production of prince igor. critics say it's time for both sides to give way. >> this means perhaps some flexibility on union agreements, but, also, cuts in management salaries for senior management. they h

he has little faith in the figures reported by peter gelb. >> he has been saying different things in press without giving substantiation for them. the fact that we've been asking for clarification for months with no response leaves us skeptical with what is really going on. >> reporter: there is skepticism over the managements lavish spending like this 169,000 poppy field built to be for a production of "prince igor." critics say its time for both sides to give way. >> this means to have some flexibility on union agreements, but also cuts in management salaries for senior management, they have to do it. secondly, budgeting in a realistic way to bring down the annual budget and build up the endowment. >> reporter: budget battles have forced other oprah companies to close, but here at the met neither side appears willing to compromise. staff contracts are due to expire at the and of the month, leaving opera fans wondering if the show will go on. >> still to come on the news hour, the president's tour of latipresident--russian's president touring cuba and leaving millions of dollars in