The Central Metropolis Opera and its president and CEO Pamela A. Pantos have parted methods within the midst of the opera’s 2023 summer time competition season.
Scott Finlay, vice chairman of improvement at Central Metropolis Opera, confirmed that as of Monday, Pantos was not employed by the opera.
“The corporate needs her the most effective in her future endeavors and can start a search instantly for a brand new president and CEO,” Finlay wrote in an e mail to The Colorado Solar.
By Tuesday afternoon, Pantos’ title had been faraway from CCO’s web site. The classical music website Sharps and Flatirons reported that an inside memo had gone out Tuesday to firm members, in addition to administrative and competition workers, sharing the information of her exit only a 12 months and a half after she was employed.
Pantos stepped into the position in late February 2022. Through the first summer time competition underneath her management — and the primary again within the iconic Central Metropolis Opera Home for the reason that pandemic upended the schedule — a few week’s price of performances have been canceled due a COVID-19 outbreak among the many performers. A contentious labor dispute between the inventive employees and opera administration quickly adopted.
Pantos had beforehand labored with organizations like Arts Consulting Group, an arts-focused recruitment agency that additionally helps with such companies as strategic planning; Newport Classical, previously often known as the Newport Music Pageant; and Opera North in New Hampshire. She spent the sooner a part of her arts profession performing as a mezzo-soprano.
Within the new job, Pantos was anticipated to serve “as the corporate’s managing director, chief administrator and neighborhood ambassador in consideration of CCO’s twin position as each opera producer and proprietor of 27 historic properties,” the 2022 information launch stated, together with the 145-year-old opera home the place the corporate performs.
She was imagined to oversee the opera firm alongside Pelham “Pat” Pearce Jr., who was Central Metropolis Opera’s inventive and government chief for greater than 25 years. However a couple of months after Pantos was employed, simply earlier than the beginning of the 2022 season, Pearce left the corporate. He informed The Denver Gazette the choice to say goodbye was totally his and stated on the time of that interview that he wasn’t able to share particulars.
Labor tensions boiled over late final 12 months as opera administration and the American Guild of Musical Artists, or AGMA, the union representing efficiency and manufacturing artists, butted heads whereas negotiating a brand new collective bargaining settlement — the earlier contract had expired in August.
In a letter despatched to the opera’s board of administrators in December and shared on the union web site, AGMA raised considerations about allegations from members together with physique shaming, sexual harassment, withheld pay and “overt threats of retaliation for union exercise.”
A couple of month later, a number of administrators slated to work with the opera for the 2023 season despatched a letter to CCO management asking that these accusations be taken significantly and addressed.
“There may be nothing private towards anyone on the firm, however as artists, we have now so few skilled and private protections, I deeply really feel that I’ve to face with my inventive colleagues,” director Ken Cazan wrote on behalf of himself and the 2 different administrators.
Central Metropolis Opera disputed the claims, placing out its personal assertion, saying CCO has “supported the proficient performers and manufacturing workers who make our firm what it’s” all through its historical past.
The union and opera each ended up submitting unfair labor practices claims with the Nationwide Labor Relations Board, and the dispute continued to play out in public view by way of statements and social media posts.
AGMA and CCO reached a collective bargaining settlement on Could 18, which is able to final till September 2027.
A press release supplied by AMGA’s director of communications, Alicia Cook dinner, to The Colorado Solar on Wednesday stated the union had heard the information that Pantos was not employed by the opera firm.
“However that’s all we at present know for sure, and we nonetheless have vital questions on what’s subsequent at CCO,” the assertion learn. “We hope that this alteration in management alerts a shift in CCO’s tradition, a dedication to treating CCO artists with dignity, respect, and care, and an enchancment to our working relationship with CCO. Ought to this be the case, AGMA stands able to work in partnership with CCO for the betterment of each the artists who carry out on its phases and CCO itself.”
The assertion additionally stated the labor union will proceed to maneuver ahead with “a number of excellent grievances underneath the CBA and a number of other unfair labor follow expenses on the Nationwide Labor Relations Board.”