Opera singers are often forced to quit their careers not because they're done with performing, but due to the financial pressures and unsustainable working conditions that come with the job. According to Andrew Potter, a 43-year-old opera singer, making a living from singing is only feasible for the top 1-2% of singers worldwide. Potter recently announced his retirement from the stage, citing the inability to sustain a family with his income.
The costs associated with being an opera singer are substantial. Singers are expected to fund their own housing, transportation, managers' fees, taxes, and extra training, all of which can add up to significant expenses. For example, Potter recalled a metropolitan opera production where he had to consider housing costs of $12,000 for his family, a sum he couldn't afford. These expenses often leave singers with little to no savings for retirement or healthcare.
The lifestyle of an opera singer can be grueling, with frequent travel and time away from home. There are over 100 opera houses in the United States, ranging from famous ones in New York and Chicago to smaller ones in cities like Omaha and Springfield. Potter shared that he has had to sleep at rest stops on long drives across the country due to the high cost of hotels, and that he was often only reimbursed with a $300 travel stipend.
The personal costs of being an opera singer can also be significant. Clark Evans, a 42-year-old baritone from Kentucky, decided to retire early from opera due to the challenges of managing his career and family life. Evans noted that being on the road for most of the year made it difficult to maintain a stable home life, and that he wanted to be a better parent to his children.
According to Katherine Phares, a voice professor at Bowling Green State University, the financial and personal pressures of being an opera singer tend to catch up with singers around midlife, around age 39. Phares studied hundreds of professional opera singers and found that this is often a turning point when life requires more financial stability, and singers may need to make real money that they can invest.
The institutions that support opera are also struggling financially, with an aging donor base, declining federal support, and high ticket prices. This squeeze extends to the people making the music, including the opera singers themselves. As a result, many Americans, including opera singers, are finding that working hard and being good at their job does not guarantee a stable and secure life.
Ultimately, opera singers are not quitting because they're tired of making art, but due to the unsustainable conditions that come with the job. The tension between the passion for singing and the financial realities of the career is one that many opera singers face, and one that can ultimately lead them to walk away from the stage.
Key points
- Many elite opera singers are leaving the stage due to financial pressures and unsustainable working conditions.
- The costs associated with being an opera singer, including housing, transportation, and training, can be substantial.
- The lifestyle of an opera singer can be grueling, with frequent travel and time away from home.
