Exclusive: Munich won’t pay opera singers for the next two months

All guest artists at Bavarian State Opera have received a letter saying they will not be paid from mid December until February. Their contracts state that they must be paid monthly in arrears.

Guest singers are in the early stage of organizing a walkout if the Staatsoper does not pay as agreed. Delayed payments are common in Italy, but not Germany. Artist managers have simply been told, “Everyone knows you don’t get paid over Christmas in Munich.” Rehearsal fees, which are meant to cover living expenses, will not be seen until more than a month after the productions are finished.

The music business is beginning to wonder whether Bavarian State Opera, under the management of the Belgian Serge Dorny (pictured), is in some kind of financial crisis.

Here the text of the letter:
hiermit möchten wir Sie darüber in Kenntnis setzen, dass aufgrund des Jahresabschlusses 2023 Zahlungen für nach dem Buchungsschluss am 15. Dezember 2023 erbrachte Leistungen erst Anfang Februar 2024 möglich sind.
Wir wünschen Ihnen und Ihrer Familie besinnliche Weihnachten und ein gutes neues Jahr.
Dear guests,
Please be aware that the closing deadline of our current fiscal period for 2023 will be December 15th, 2023. All payments of services rendered after December 15th, 2023 will not be made until the beginning of February 2024.
We wish you and your families a peaceful and merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Mit freundlichen Grüßen / Best regards, Dr. Roland Schwab

UPDATE: Dr Schwab says it’s not their fault:

Dear Mr. Lebrecht,
The reason why it is impossible to settle guest engagements in full for some time at the end of every calendar year is not due to the Bayerische Staatsoper, but to the fact that payments are processed via the Bavarian State Treasurer’s Office (For your information the Bayerische Staatsoper is a government agency). This problem has unfortunately existed for at least the past 10 years. Every year a similar letter is send out to inform all concerned about this problem. I can only assume that most guests who regularly perform at the Bayerische Staatsoper are aware of this.

Every year we deal with this unfortunate situation as follows: Performances up to and including 17 December 2023 are billed in advance. To help artists who are affected by the delayed payment deadline are also welcome to contact the financial services, in an attempt to find a reasonable and acceptable solution.
Dr. Roland Schwab (Administrative and Financial Director of Bayerische Staatsoper):