Striking San Francisco Opera musicians march outside the War Memorial Opera House on Saturday. The Opera suspended its season and cancelled performances through Sunday.

The San Francisco Opera began its 104th season with an empty orchestra pit. The musicians went on strike shortly before the Saturday premiere of Verdi’s “Simon Boccanegra,” leading to the cancellation of the season opener. Since then, the company had suspended the season, canceling performances through Sunday as the musicians and management tried to reach an agreement on wages, guaranteed working hours and the institution’s financial future. 

San Francisco Opera management and its orchestra musicians reached a tentative agreement late Thursday on a new contract that must be ratified before performances are held. 

I am no expert in labor economics, and history cannot dictate what a fair contract for San Francisco’s musicians should look like. But as a music historian whose research focuses on 19th century musical institutions and patronage, I recognize the broader issue underlying this dispute.

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Staging an opera has always been an extremely costly endeavor, and the ticket buyer has rarely been the only one footing the bill. Data from the San Francisco Opera itself vividly illustrates a modern version of this problem. The company stated that it has an annual structural deficit of approximately $15 million. According to its most recent audited financial statements, ticket sales revenue totaled $13.8 million, while operating expenses reached $82.6 million. Consequently, a significant portion of the organization’s funding must come from sources other than box office receipts. 

To a modern audience, this may seem like proof that such a business model is........

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