Atlanta Opera musicians earn under $10,000 a year
OrchestrasThe New York Times reported approvingly the other day that Atlanta Opera’s turnaround chief Tomer Zevulun made a handsome $700,000 in the company’s last financial year, parlayed down to $550,000 by some anxious PR.
Zevulun 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.
That is America!