New York City Opera Reaches Tentative Agreement with Unions

After lengthy and intense negotiations with AGMA and Local 802, New York City Opera has reached an agreement with musicians and performers, allowing it to go ahead with its truncated season, which will be held in a variety of venues, various news outlets have reported.

Following the decision last summer by George Steel, NYCO's general manager/artistic director, to vacate the David H. Koch Theatre at Lincoln Center, and presented shortened season -- a strategy designed to cope with the company's dire financial situation -- various unions rebelled, initially refusing the company's plan and demanding a bigger say in future planning. As recently as last week, negotations stalled to the point where observers wondered if there would be a season at all. A major sticking point in the negotiations was the company's plan to pay performers and musicians per performance, rather than for an entire season. No terms were released.

The agreement must now be voted on by the unions' memberships.

The season begins La Traviata, running February 12-18, in a production staged by Jonathan Miller, with scenery and costumes by Isabella Baywater and lighting by Robert Wierzel. It will be followed by the U.S. premiere of Prima Donna, by Rupert Wainwright, in a production staged by Tim Albery, with scenery and costumes by Antony McDonald and lighting by Thomas C. Hase. Both productions will be staged at the Brooklyn Academy of Music. Other productions will follow later in the year.