Eun Sun Kim
Music Director of San Francisco Opera
Good news is something we can all use: today, San Francisco Opera announced that Eun Sun Kim's contract has been renewed for another five years, extending her tenure here to the end of the 2030-31 season. She'll continue the Verdi-Wagner pattern, she'll lead a Ring des Nibelungen in a few years, and, in welcome news, Parsifal returns next season. The press release describes this as "brand new" but does not say whether it's an SFO-only production or a co-production with another company.
- Lisa Hirsch, SF Chronicle
- Janos Gereben, SFCV (TK)
- SF Opera press release
But then there's the bad news, coming from the SF Opera Orchestra. The link is to a Facebook post that reads as follows:
It was announced today that Music Director Eun Sun Kim’s contract has been extended through 2031 and the Orchestra is very pleased that she will continue in her role for the foreseeable future. However, we remain deeply concerned that the Opera appears unwilling to invest in the musicians who bring Maestro Kim’s vision to life.
Our negotiations with Opera Management have continued over recent weeks, but their proposals to date are unacceptable. Not only does management’s lone offer for a contract beyond this season cut the Orchestra’s working conditions, benefits, and pay relative to inflation, it also drastically reduces the number of musicians in our complement. This comes at a time when our Orchestra already has over a dozen vacant positions that Management has held open since the pandemic. At the same time, the Opera’s administrative spending continues to rise.
This should concern everyone who loves the Opera and wants it to succeed. If management is unwilling to invest in the music and provide a fair contract to the Orchestra, the Company will be unable to attract and retain top talent and to grow ticket sales and revenue. Most importantly, management’s unacceptable proposal reflects their lack of vision and inability to chart a sustainable path forward for the Opera.
The Opera must agree to a fair contract for the Orchestra, not only for the security of its musicians, but to remain competitive and retain the talent required to produce Maestro Kim’s world-class performances for our beloved audiences to enjoy.
That is what we are fighting for, and we appreciate your ongoing support!
Sincerely, San Francisco Opera Orchestra
Interesting phrasing, because "sustainability" is a word you hear from time to time from Matthew Shilvock, general director of SFO, and, across the street, Matthew Spivey, the CEO of SFS. The two orchestra-management face-offs feel weirdly similar, with management claiming they just can't pay, while 1) both of the management heads have gotten raises 2) both organizations have endowments worth more than $300 million (how that money is handled is somewhat opaque to me) 3) both have donor bases that have (mostly) been able to make up deficits. I will, in fairness, note that during the centennial season, SFO sustained a $13 million loss, as reflected on its most recent 990.
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