New York City Opera musicians protest contract (AP)

NEW YORK – Musicians of the New York City Opera are staging a protest as the company announces its new season.

The union members say they're being offered a contract that would gut the chorus and orchestra and strip them of health and other benefits. And they say they're not even guaranteed a minimum number of work weeks.

City Opera spokeswoman Maggie McKeon says the company is simply executing a new strategy to reverse a decade of deficits. Opera officials were announcing the new program Monday — a season of only three or four operas.

The 68-year-old organization is revered as a pillar of American culture and has built the careers of such stars as Placido Domingo. But in recent years, it has struggled with a dwindling endowment and a multimillion-dollar deficit.

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Daniel Barenboim to extend Berlin Opera contract (AFP)

BERLIN (AFP) – Daniel Barenboim, the Argentinian-Israeli pianist and conductor, is to extend his contract as music director of the Berlin State Opera, city officials said Thursday.

His current contract runs out in July of next year.

City officials did not specify for how long Barenboim would renew his contract, saying this would be made public at a signing ceremony on Wednesday.

In 2000, Barenboim, now aged 68, was made a life member of the Berlin State Opera.

A tireless campaigner for peace between Israel and the Palestinians, Barenboim conducted an orchestra of top European musicians at a special concert in Gaza in May.

The British embassy in Berlin recently announced he was to receive a knighthood for his work toward reconciliation in the Middle East through music.

Barenboim will become an honorary Knight Commander of the most excellent Order of the British Empire (KBE) but he will not receive a "Sir" title -- an honour reserved for Britons.

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