Atlanta Opera musicians earn under $10,000 a year

Atlanta Opera musicians earn under $10,000 a year

Orchestras

norman lebrecht

October 09, 2024

The New York Times reported approvingly the other day that Atlanta Opera’s turnaround chief Tomer Zvulun made a handsome $700,000 in the company’s last financial year, parlayed down to $550,000 by some anxious PR.

Zvulun has, by all accounts, worked wonders for Atlanta.

Below decks, however, things are not so happy.

Musicians tell us that a section player is paid between $6500-$9000 a year for 3-4 productions, which is hardly an inducement to move to Atlanta. Hourly wages have fallen 12 percent in real terms since 2019. Contract negotiations are stalled.

Meanwhile, Atlanta Opera is spending $45 million on a new admin building and arts centre.

Not so jolly, then.

 

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