Opera and Musicians Agree on Carmen Performance Contract

The Kentucky Opera and the local musicians union have reached an agreement for this month's performances of Carmen.Musicians from the Louisville Orchestra typically accompany the opera, but the musicians are at am impasse with orchestra management over a contract for the next season. Orchestra concerts have been canceled through November.The agreement secures 51 players for three performances of Carmen later this month. Opera General Director David Roth says both sides had to make sacrifices due to the lack of an orchestra contract."The Louisville Orchestra gives us a discount to be the resident company of Kentucky Opera," he says. "Without the Louisville Orchestra, we have to then absorb those additional costs."Both sides will soon discuss a similar agreement for November's performances of The Marriage of Figaro."Now that it is official we will have to sit down and look at an agreement for The Marriage of Figaro and negotiate, if it's possible, negotiate for our services that we need for the Marriage of Figaro coming up in November," says Roth."I would expect the negotiations will go smoothly," says musicians committee chair Kim Tichenor. "If the negotiations we had this past week are any indication, we should be able to reach an agreement quickly."The contract is awaiting approval from the musicians and the opera's board. Tichenor expects quick approval and smooth negotiations for future performances.