ROPA 2022 Conference ReportPALM BEACH OPERA ORCHESTRAREPORT TO THE ROPA CONFERENCE, JULY 2022 Laura Hilgeman Miller, ROPA Delegate Operating Budget: $5-5.5 million 2021-2022 Season Length: December-March (30 services) 4 Opera Productions Number of Musicians: 58 Per Service Rates: Section: 2.5 hour: $132.69, 3 hour $159.22, 3.5 hour perf. $185.76 DESCRIPTION The Palm Beach Opera is a per service orchestra located in West Palm Beach, Florida. Over half of the musicians in the orchestra reside in the south florida area while the rest travel in from around the state and throughout the country. 2022 marked Palm Beach Opera’s 60th anniversary. The program book documented the company’s performance history and highlighted renowned artists and memorabilia throughout the years. In April 2022, PBO received a $6 million gift from an anonymous local foundation. SEASON IN REVIEW The first production, Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas, was staged outside at the Norton Museum of Art Sculpture Garden and used a reduced chamber orchestra and singers from PBO’s Benenson Young Artists Program. Bizet’s Carmen, Donizetti’s The Elixir of Love, and Lehar’s The Merry Widow were fully staged with three performances each at the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts. All personnel were required to be fully vaccinated and tested on site for COVID at their first day of work. Singers and wind/ brass musicians were tested every third day of work and all others once per week. Masking was required at all times except for singers, dancers, conductor and wind/ brass musicians during on stage rehearsals and performances. Masks were not required outdoors. There was no social distancing in the pit. The Kravis Center required audience members to show proof of vaccination or negative test results upon entrance. PERSONNEL NEWS Several tenured members of the orchestra elected to take unpaid leaves of absence for the season due to the COVID protocols. Our sideletter with management guaranteed these absences would not affect the musicians’ tenure status and that they shall not be prejudiced in any manner. PBO’s director of artistic administration continues to serve as the orchestra’s personnel manager. CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS The orchestra did not elect to reopen the contract in 2021 and agreed to the existing 2% pay increases for the 21/22 and 22/23 seasons. Our COVID sideletter expired at the end of the season and will be renegotiated before next season begins. However, it is not likely that COVID vaccination can be required now due to newly passed Florida law. We will also be negotiating a new contract as our CBA will expire on May 31, 2023. 2022-23 SEASON PBO has purchased an 18,000 square foot building for $4 million and is renovating it for rehearsal space, administrative offices, production storage, and community outreach. PBO will continue to perform fully staged operas at the Kravis Center with Puccini’s Madama Butterfly, Mozart’s Cosi fan tutte, and Verdi’s Falstaff planned for 2023 |