COMPANY IDENTITY
1. A wide range of 100 member companies answered the survey, from largest to smallest.
PRODUCTIVITY
2. A total of 14,955 main stage performances were planned for the 2019/20 season by these companies, yielding an average number of 150.
3. Between lockdown in March and the end of the season, 6,128 main stage performance were cancelled, an average of 62, representing 41% of the season lost.
FINANCE
4. Income budgeted for the 2019/20 season was close to 1 billion €.
For the two largest companies it exceeded 100 million €; for the smallest a few 100 thousand; but the average was over 10 million €.
5. Income lost from cancelled performances amounted to 320,730,275 €, which averages 3,272,758 €, and represents one-third of the annual box office income.
Such a loss of revenue was on an unprecedented scale for most companies, but, with strong support from funders, might have been sustainable as a one-off hit. It is the continuing prospect of significantly reduced income which threatens the future existence of opera companies, which is why we asked the more difficult question of predicting what might happen during the rest of the year. Over 80 companies accepted this challenge, with the following results:.
6. Income budgeted for the new season up to end December was over 360 million €, as might be expected for roughly one-third of the season.
7. Income now projected for reduced programmes and capacities is 153.4 million €, which is 42.5 % of the original target. It represents an average shortfall of 2 million € for the period. If similar restrictions on performance and audience were maintained for a full season, that average loss would reach 6 million €.
EMPLOYMENT
Turning from the loss to institutions to the human cost:
8. The number of people fully employed by our 100 surveyed companies during the last season was close to 35,000, or an average of 350 permanent jobs per company.
9. As a result of the closedown, 14,070 of those people were placed on furlough or temporarily unemployed. That is an average of 140 people per company, or 40% of the workforce.
10. In addition, our opera companies offered nearly 32,810 guest contracts.
11. As a result of the lost performances, 14,096 of those contracts were cancelled, 43% of the total, directly impacting livelihoods.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
Confronted with the assault on productivity, finances and jobs, opera companies sought to keep contact with audiences.
12. Many opera companies already promoted online activities, but lockdown has created a new imperative. 93% of our surveyed companies engaged in streaming, podcasts and a digital presence since March.
13. Fewer engaged in live performances, but 48% presented live concerts or other initiatives with their ensembles to maintain contact.
14. Furthermore, 58% of our sample contributed to its community in other ways, by producing protective gear or other social benefits.
The message is that opera companies are eager to fulfil their mission to serve their communities. They and their employees have taken a big financial hit this year. They are not alone, and what has been lost is irretrievable. But looking ahead, it is incontrovertible that the companies and artists will need support to survive during the 2020/21 season, while they work to adjust their artistic and business plans and reconnect with audiences.
Nicholas Payne and Audrey Jungers