The company’s orchestra and chorus will not be paid past March. The move is another stark sign that even the richest cultural institutions face a profound threat from the outbreak.
- . The opera company orchestra and chorus will not be paid past March, though they will retain their health benefits. “We’re doing the best we can under a horrendously difficult situation,” Peter Gelb, the company general manager, said in an interview. “As far as our union employees are concerned, we are trying to do the best we can by them, given the financial constraints that we have.” Leonard Egert, the national executive director of the American Guild of Musical Artists, the union representing the Met’s chorus, soloists, stage directors and others at the opera house, said: “We recognize it’s unprecedented times. We appreciate the Met keeping health insurance coverage for full-time artists. But it’s a devastating mental and financial toll on our artists. ”
While some losses of ticket and fund-raising revenue will be mitigated by lower operating expenses, Mr. Gelb said that the decision to scrap the season, originally scheduled to end on May 9, would expose the Met to a net shortfall of $ 75 million to $ 60 million. The company announced an emergency effort aimed at raising that amount, with initial pledges from board members of $ 18 million.
Mr. Gelb added that he would forgo his salary until operations returned to normal. Pay will be cut by to percent for senior management, and by 12 percent for non-senior administrative staff making more than $ , 0 a year. There are no planned salary cuts for those making less than that, and no plans for layoffs of administrative staff. “We need an administrative staff to keep the institution running without performances,” Mr. Gelb said. “The business of the Met has to go on.”
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