'Use us more' say Scottish Opera musicians under threat

Published on Wednesday 19 May 2010 23:34

THE HEAD of the Musicians' Union in Scotland yesterday called on Scottish Opera to use its orchestra in more performances if it was "under-utilised", as bosses now claim.

Scottish Opera's management has called a meeting with union representatives on Monday to discuss the 53-strong orchestra's future.

In 2004 the opera made the members of its 34-strong chorus redundant as part of cost-cutting measures after a series of financial crises. It opted to rely on a chorus of freelance singers, while keeping the full-time orchestra.

General director Alex Reedijik said he was seeking the meeting because the orchestra was "under-utilised".

The orchestra plays in about 44 operas a year, and also in some additional concerts.

It is the fourth major orchestra currently working in Scotland after the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, and the BBC Scottish Symphony.

Sheena MacDonald, regional organiser for the Musicians' Union, said: "If they are suggesting the orchestra is under-utilised, we would want to know what proposals they have got in terms of opportunities for them to be working more."

Mr Reedijk said: "We have been doing our very best to keep them as busy as possible, but we still have the long-standing issue of under-utilisation."