Scottish Opera shake-up could bring Executive £6.4m bill

THE Scottish Executive could pay up to £6.4 million for the restructuring costs of Scottish Opera. The transition costs of "changed management" at the opera are estimated to range from £5.9 million to £6.4 million. The figure would include paying off the £4.5 million advance that the company has received from the Scottish Arts Council, sources said.

A final announcement on the Executive’s decision on one of two management plans is now expected as early as next week.

There were calls yesterday for the Executive to consult on its plans with major players in the Scottish music scene, from top theatres to other orchestras, all with big stakes in the opera’s future.

"There has been a degree of secrecy that has been regrettable," said one senior figure in the arts world. "There are a number of interested parties who have a stake in the future of Scottish Opera that really need to be brought into the loop."

Scottish Opera confirmed in its accounts for 2003, which were finally issued this week, that the Executive was prepared to pay the "one-off" costs.

These costs would include redundancy payments and maintaining Scottish Ballet’s access to Glasgow’s Theatre Royal, which is currently run by the opera.

Two plans for the opera’s future have been submitted to the Executive. One is reported to envisage 200 redundancies, leaving only 20 administrative jobs. The other involves 120 job losses and the company holding off on large-scale productions for 15 months.

The opera’s annual report and accounts show that the operating costs were 1,148,191 in 2002/3, which accounted for most of the 1,511,103 that the opera made in box-office income in the 12 months.