The New York lyric house has not yet come to an agreement with all its employees on the wage cuts that it considers essential for the recovery and to redress a very worrying financial situation, after a season and a half of closure:
The health crisis affecting the planet is also causing its share of economic, social and artistic crises. The Metropolitan Opera of New York (which subsists almost exclusively on its own funds) is thus faced with an abysmal deficit (estimated at 150 million dollars during the pandemic). The institution therefore aims to recover maximum income and reduce its expenditure. The gauge will thus be at 100% from the start of the 2021/2022 season with compulsory vaccination for all spectators and staff as we detail, provided that the shows can effectively resume, not only because of health threats but also because of health threats. ‘an agreement on wage cuts which remains to be established, in order to reduce expenses.
An important agreement has already been made with the union that represents the choirs, soloists, dancers, actors and stage managers of the Met, and the Opera has also made agreements in extremis with the unions representing the machinists to be able to reopen in September. Management initially announced that it wanted a 30% gross reduction (20% net) on the most important remunerations, but discussions resulted in a decrease of around 3.7% net for most of the staff concerned. Substantial savings are also expected with the decision to move the health insurance of these staff to that of their union and by reducing the number of permanent choristers. The institution will also receive aid of $ 10 million from the federal government, a rare and significant contribution in this difficult context (and which has been delayed for administrative reasons).
Nevertheless, a major obstacle that could prevent American opera from reopening in time remains. The agreement on the salary cuts has not yet been reached with the musicians of the Orchestra.
Already several postponements and cancellations
Already, the time of crisis and the time necessary to conclude the agreement with the machinists has its consequences. The technical condition of the Met is potentially a source of concern (such a building requiring constant operation and / or maintenance): the technicians returning to the set in early July 2021 were first tasked with tidying up the elements of the Ghost ship, of Werther and of Cinderella (production dated March 2020). The technical rehearsals, usually scheduled for the beginning of August for new productions, will not take place until the end of August. These delays and complications have already caused the cancellation ofIphigenia in Tauride de Gluck directed by Nathalie Stutzmann with Kate Lindsey and Étienne Dupuis, which was to take place from September 29 to October 15.
A concert scheduled for October 10 with soprano Anna Netrebko and the Met Orchestra conducted by Yannick Nézet-Séguin is postponed, as is the first performance of Turandot October 7 shifted to 12.
The season is scheduled to begin on September 27 with a production of Fire Shut Up In My Bones by Terence Blanchard presented as the first black composer to appear at the Met. He will be followed from the 28th by Boris Godounov, with notably David Butt Philip, Alexey Markov, René Pape and Maxim Paster. In the preseason, the annual Met Gala (major source of financial and image revenue), scheduled for September 13, is also maintained. Full vaccination will also be required for this meeting which will see the presence of pop celebrities (such as Rihanna or Billie Eilish).
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