Half-hearted advice puts touring opera companies at odds with each other

There is too little money for two travelling opera companies. Quality is at risk, something must be done. But the Culture Council does not offer a solution.

The Wednesday published advice from the Council for Culture contains few real surprises. Some more money is needed, more emphasis on cities, differentiation in youth theatre, that's about it. Concrete companies are not mentioned, in line with minister Bussemaker's wish that the council should leave the institutions alone as much as possible.

But then we read under the heading opera offerings:

"The limited BIS budget is now divided between two institutions. The pressure on these organisations is great. Each institution can only put on a limited number of productions, partly due to the nature of the art form opera. [...] The council believes that the current budget is not sufficient and that it is too fragmented to shape and develop the travelling opera offer in a sustainable and qualitative way.

It is a remarkable sign that in the field of touring opera, the council disregards Bussemaker's wish. And since there are only two touring opera companies in our country, the council thus explicitly refers to De Nederlandse Reisopera and Opera Zuid.

A solution that is not a solution

And since much extra money from the state is an illusion, the council is proposing a merger. One would think. But no, it opts for a half-hearted solution:

Seek additional budget for touring opera offerings with local governments or concentrate resources for touring opera with one organisation.

Well considered: an opinion of nothing. Because the council knows all too well that although the much smaller Opera Zuid has a lot of ties in the region, it does not yield that much financially. And the council also knows that the Nederlandse Reisopera is also closely linked to the region, but that the province of Overijssel has pumped all the extra cultural millions into HET Symfonieorkest.

That the quality of opera is not served by splintering money, everyone will quickly agree on that, but what the council is doing is creating a competition between provinces and cities: who values retaining a touring opera company the most.

And that could be an interesting battle, because Limburg will not accept that after the Limburg Symphony Orchestra, Opera Zuid will also disappear. Just as Overijssel will not accept that after the inevitable merger of HET Symfonieorkest with Het Gelders Orkest, the Nederlandse Reisopera will also disappear.

Companies' reactions

In brief, the Dutch Travel Opera: we welcome the advice and do not rule anything out. A merger is also a possibility.

Opera South: opera organisations should be given more time to prove themselves in the new situation. The opera audience will benefit if there are more opera companies with a varied offer. But either way: no merger.

Thus, a half-hearted opinion already puts the two companies, which have to meet in any case, both backed by regional, often political interests, at odds with each other.

How to move forward? Three scenarios

1. Nothing changes at all

Regional interests will prevail, some money will be found from the province and both companies will continue on the course set, then the council will conclude again in a few years:

"This is a very limited number of productions to put together a good annual programme with."

2. Part of the budget of one company is transferred to the other. Then you effectively have two shortfalls, but keep both regions happy. A disaster in terms of content and quality, so most likely.

3. Only one remains. Since the Nederlandse Reisopera is the largest and already travels throughout the Netherlands, the victim is Opera Zuid. Then Limburg will have to be compensated. For example, by concentrating the talent development programmes of both remaining opera companies there. It would fit into the tradition of Maastricht and Eindhoven, but extra money will have to go there.

Huge risks

Each scenario harbours a huge risk. Continuing on the path started by Halbe Zijlstra will sooner or later lead to financial problems and loss of quality. Half-hearted solutions too. But even a merger, read disbanding a company, puts enormous pressure on the one remaining travelling opera company. Because with less money than before, it suddenly has to serve the whole country.

That Opera Zuid is immediately opposed is obvious. That the Netherlands Reisopera is not ruling anything out is logical, but perhaps not wise. After all, even with that extra one and a half million, a single company can never meet the high expectations. The ball is now in the minister's court.