In Munich, according to the union, around 12,000 people followed Verdi’s call for an all-day strike on Tuesday in the collective bargaining dispute between the states and demonstrated on Odeonsplatz. Among the participants were many employees of the state theaters who are fighting for significant improvements in the collective agreement for the public service of the states (TV-L). The union speaks of the “Munich State Theater Thunder”. At the Bavarian State Opera there is still a storm on another front. The house has now confirmed a report by British journalist Norman Lebrecht, which he published on his classical music portal “Slipped Disc” on Tuesday.
There you can read the message from the Managing Director of the State Opera, Roland Schwab, to guest singers: “We would like to inform you that, due to the 2023 annual financial statements, payments for services provided after the booking deadline on December 15, 2023 will only be made at the beginning February 2024. We wish you and your family a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.”
For Lebrecht, the question now arises as to whether the Bavarian State Opera is in a financial crisis. When asked, Roland Schwab contradicts him with a statement that the State Opera also received South German newspaper has confirmed: Normally, guest artists receive the invoice for the previous month at the beginning of the month. But it is not the State Opera’s fault that it is not possible to fully invoice guest engagements at the end of each calendar year. Payments are processed in accordance with the specifications of the State Treasury (State Office of Finance). According to Schwab, this problem has unfortunately existed for at least ten years.
A similar letter is sent every year to inform everyone affected. An unfortunate situation that is being dealt with again this year by billing in advance for performances up to and including December 17th. In individual cases, advance payments are offered. Production crews from December and February production would be paid early.