In Wednesday’s (1/18) New York Times, Daniel J. Wakin writes, “The New York City Opera and its orchestra union have reached a tentative agreement on a contract, a step forward in the company’s effort to put on a season, officials said Tuesday.” The orchestra’s players are represented by Local 802 of the American Federation of Musicians. “Management and the other major union, the American Guild of Musical Artists [which represents vocalists and other personnel], were still in talks but reportedly making progress. No terms were released, and the orchestra players still have to ratify the pact. Voting is expected to take place on Wednesday and Thursday. The process is delicate, since the unions have agreed to stand together; a failure to reach an agreement by one could scuttle progress by the other. … City Opera’s spokeswoman, Risa B. Heller, confirmed the tentative deal and said negotiators for the company and the Guild, which represents the chorus, principal singers, stage managers and assistant directors, were still talking on Tuesday evening. A Guild official did not return messages. The parties have been working with federal mediators. Rehearsals with the chorus on ‘La Traviata,’ the first production of the company’s season, were to start on Jan. 9, but the sessions were canceled when talks broke down and the company called a lockout. Contacts resumed over the weekend. Performances of ‘La Traviata’ are scheduled to start on Feb. 12 at the Brooklyn Academy of Music.”
Posted January 18, 2012
