With his announcement that he is retiring from staged opera at the age of 43, a bass recently drew attention to a fundamental problem in the profession: even in the prime of his career, he cannot earn an adequate living from his work. Performance fees have remained unchanged in nominal terms over the past thirty years, while their inflation-adjusted value has fallen by roughly half. On top of this, opera houses are increasingly reluctant to cover their guest artists’ travel and accommodation costs, which have risen considerably, let alone contribute towards their agency commissions.
For us as agencies, this creates a double burden. Our commission income has likewise remained unchanged in nominal terms, while the cost of our travel has multiplied. These trips are essential if we are to assess the artistic work of the singers we represent first-hand. At the same time, commissions become harder for artists to afford when presenters no longer pay their share.
Cultural budgets are shrinking, and opera houses and presenters are fighting for survival. Even so, we must work together to consider how structures can be changed to achieve substantial savings without placing an additional burden on those who deliver outstanding artistic performances for audiences night after night.