The San Francisco Opera Orchestra went on strike Saturday night, just minutes before the company’s scheduled season-opening performance of Verdi’s “Simon Boccanegra” at the War Memorial Opera House. The walkout follows months of stalled contract negotiations between the orchestra musicians, represented by American Federation of Musicians Local 6, and the opera management.
Opera officials informed the audience at 7:25 p.m. that the performance, set to begin at 8 p.m., was canceled, and an outdoor event scheduled for the following day in Golden Gate Park was also called off. Outside the venue, orchestra members picketed with signs demanding fair wages and criticizing austerity measures. The sudden strike has placed the opera’s season and programming in uncertainty during a pivotal moment for the company.
The conflict stems from the expiration of the musicians’ contract on July 31 and subsequent discussions about compensation. San Francisco Opera, grappling with a $15 million operating shortfall and rising costs, has proposed a five-year wage freeze for the orchestra, a significant shift from previous salary levels. Management has cited the need to adapt the compensation structure, which dates back more than four decades, to reflect the company’s reduced workload and financial realities.
Orchestra members, who currently earn a base salary of approximately $118,000 annually for 24 weeks of rehearsals and performances—with potential increases based on seniority—have rejected the offer, arguing that it fails to account for inflation and the high cost of living in San Francisco. The musicians contend that the proposed contract would effectively reduce their income over time.
In a joint statement, the union expressed regret over the timing but maintained that the strike was necessary in response to what they described as insufficient management proposals and a refusal to consider fair pay adjustments. “Management’s insistence on cuts has left us no other option,” they said.
San Francisco Opera General Director Matthew Shilvock acknowledged the challenges facing the company, describing the strike as part of broader difficulties confronting arts organizations amid economic pressures. He highlighted the company’s strong philanthropic support—$49.5 million raised last year, covering 89% of revenue—but noted the organization has scaled back its production schedule over recent decades in efforts to manage costs, with last season’s six productions representing less than half the number staged in 1981.
Shilvock emphasized that the opera continues to see robust ticket sales and donor engagement but admitted that expenses have outpaced revenue growth for more than 60 years, necessitating operational adjustments. “We cannot sustain a compensation structure that originated 45 years ago without bringing it into alignment with current reality,” he said.
The company currently plans to resume performances with “Simon Boccanegra” on Wednesday, though the outlook for resolving the labor dispute remains uncertain.