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Dallas Man Apologizes For Sprinkling His Friend's Ashes At The Met

NEW YORK (AP) -- The opera lover who sparked a scare at the Metropolitan Opera by scattering his mentor's ashes in the orchestra pit has apologized for his actions.

Dallas resident Roger Kaiser said in a letter Wednesday that he promised a cancer-stricken friend in 2012 that he would scatter the friend's ashes at various opera houses after his death.

The Met halted a performance of Rossini's "Guillaume Tell" Saturday after some musicians reported seeing Kaiser sprinkle a powdery substance into the orchestra pit. A later performance of another opera was also canceled as police investigated.

Kaiser wrote to Met general manager Peter Gelb and the Met community that his "sweet gesture to a dying friend" went "completely and utterly wrong."

Gelb responded that he appreciates the innocence of Kaiser's intentions, "even if misguided."

(TM and © Copyright 2016 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2016 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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