In Wake of Wage Cuts, Met Asks Opera Stars to Take Less, Too

After winning pay cuts from its unionized workers in labor fights earlier this year, the Metropolitan Opera is asking its star solo singers to share the organization’s fiscal pain, writes The New York Times. General Manager Peter Gelb sent a request to soloists Wednesday asking that they voluntarily lower their fees by up to 7 percent—matching reductions by musicians and chorus members—or make an equivalent donation to the opera.

In his letter, which also went to conductors, directors, designers, and choreographers, Mr. Gelb said some of the Met’s most popular performers, including Placido Domingo and Anna Netrebko, have already agreed to reduced paydays through the 2017-18 season. Met soloists can receive up to $17,000 per performance. The opera, which is struggling with rising budgets and dwindling ticket sales, threatened to lock out employees earlier this year before reaching mediated deals with its unions in August that included slashing administrative costs as well as salaries.