mahler was invited to go to america to conduct the metropolitan opera in new york city. it was very different from what he had been used to in europe. instead of working with a group of singers who worked together as a team, the operas at the metropolitan opera were sung by great operatic stars. mahler did not try to change this. he even agreed to make cuts to wagner operas. then he was invited to be the conductor of the new york philharmonic so he resigned from the metropolitan. the last time he conducted there was as a guest artist.