The ensemble of the prestigious La Zarzuela Theater Choir has taken a definitive step towards voicing their concern regarding what they describe as an “accelerated process of disappearance” of jobs within their esteemed institution. This alarming development comes in the wake of the recent recognition of the Zarzuela by the Council of Ministers as a Representative Manifestation of the Spanish Intangible Cultural Heritage.
The choir members convened in an assembly where they penned and signed a document that was first reported by ‘ABC’ and later obtained by Europa Press. In this document, the choir members sternly demanded the “immediate compliance” of an agreement that was previously signed by the General Directorate of INAEM with the aim of filling the current vacancies within the choir.
They further declared, “If the current situation persists, we reserve the right to employ the legal measures available to us within the legal system in order to defend our rights.” The said document was addressed to the Ministry under the leadership of Ernest Urtasun.
The choir members highlighted in their document that the Zarzuela theater has seen “successive governments of all political stripes” implement cuts in staff across all sections and ramp up temporary employment. They noted that in the choir’s case, the number of singers was at 70 prior to the implementation of the Single Agreement for the Labor Personnel of the General Administration of the State. The number then fell to 56 singers in February 2020 and currently stands at 42.
They further elaborated that, with the projected retirements set to happen by the close of 2026, these positions will dwindle to a worrying 29 singers, based on their calculations. They noted, “Given this grim outlook, coupled with the frustratingly slow pace of the Administration, the harsh reality is that the Zarzuela Theater Choir is on a path towards extinction.”
The choir members also brought attention to the fact that their next performance, a historical revival of the opera ‘Gal-la Placidia’, necessitates a much larger workforce than what is presently available. They stressed, “This problem will persist and intensify as the impending retirements continue to take place.”
They further disclosed that in a bid to remedy this personnel shortage, they have opted to forge a collaboration agreement with the ORCAM Foundation which will supply twelve singers. They stated, “We want to express our deep gratitude, admiration, and respect towards our professional colleagues from the Community Choir. Moreover, our professional and artistic responsibility has compelled us not to consider the option of calling for strikes for the two concerts.”
Nevertheless, the choir workers emphasized that they are not “prepared to accept” jobs being filled via collaboration agreements with other professional choirs. They concluded by saying, “For all these reasons, we demand immediate compliance with the agreement signed by the General Directorate of INAEM to fill the current vacancies.”
