Lyric Opera of Chicago, musicians reach deal to end strike, it says

The Lyric Opera of Chicago has reached a deal with its musicians, who had gone on strike, the Lyric said in a statement Saturday.

"We have reached a multiyear labor agreement with the Chicago Federation of Musicians Local #10-208 (CFM) extending through the 2020/21 season," the Lyric tweeted. "The Agreement is subject to the ratification of CFM members. Details are not being released to the public at this time."

The musicians walked off the job Tuesday to protest cuts proposed by management, setting up a picket line outside the Civic Opera House and playing excerpts from various operas as they expressed opposition by the opera company to cut the number of orchestra musicians by five.

"What we are suggesting to the orchestra is that we reduce the number of core players through attrition and with voluntary retirement benefits," Lyric Opera CEO Anthony Freud said. "The thing is that currently, the core number of musicians is 74. Many of the operas we perform don't need an orchestra of 74."

The opera company also wanted to cut the pay of remaining musicians by 8 percent and the number of working weeks by two weeks to 22 weeks.

"Anthony Freud and Lyric management are demanding radical cuts that would decimate the orchestra and forever diminish Lyric Opera," the musicians said in a statement.

As a result of the strike, the Lyric canceled Thursday's matinee performance of Puccini's "La Boheme" and Saturday's opening night for Mozart's "Idomeneo." Also canceled was Friday's performance of "Choir! Choir! Choir!"

The musicians' contract with the opera company expired June 30. At issue is management's contention the previous contract no longer reflects the company's economic reality. Lyric Opera contends its diminishing audience can no longer support as many weeks of performances as in the past.

"It's a national trend that opera performances are harder and more expensive to sell than they ever have been," Freud said. "We're scheduling the maximum number of opera performances we believe we can sell."

The musicians strike comes a day after the Lyric reached an agreement with stagehands, hair and makeup workers, and ticket sellers.