The top opera company in Britain faces criticism after its new dynamic pricing model pushed ticket prices to more than £400.
Royal Ballet and Opera (RBO) is listing tickets for Wagner’s Siegfried, the third chapter of the Ring Cycle, for up to £415.
It marks the most expensive ticket on sale in Britain by any publicly subsidised performing arts company. RBO enjoys a state subsidy of over £22 million every year through Arts Council England.
In response to the criticism, RBO, which is based in Covent Garden, said: “We introduced demand-led pricing this Season, meaning ticket prices are now subject to change based on audience demand.
“This approach enables us to maximise ticket revenue and support a financially sustainable future for the RBO.
They added that tickets for Siegfried start at £19 and that the £400 price mark is the upper tier.
They reiterated their commitment to affordability, which “remains central” to their offer.
Earlier in the year, tickets for Giant, Mark Rosenblatt’s play about Roald Dahl’s antisemitism, starring John Lithgow, were priced at £436 through the same model.
Dynamic pricing has engendered controversy all over the entertainment industry, with fans of Oasis and Ariana Grande all collectively outraged when tickets were sold for hundreds of pounds more than expected.
While RBO did warn that the scheme may lead to final prices “varying slightly” during the process of securing tickets, they reassured punters that prices would not change while “in your basket”.
Siegfried, which will be conducted by former music director Sir Antonio Pappano and directed by Barrie Kosky, is a long performance of just under six hours.
The Covent Garden production will include two breaks, including a substantial “dinner interval,” but is still recognised as one of the toughest artistic and logistical challenges for opera houses.
Defenders of the scheme have argued that these prices pale in comparison to the massive sums charged by Premier League football games – Arsenal prices are listed at £146.50 and Fulham sits at £125.
Thangam Debbonaire, chair of the UK Opera Association, said last week that the perception that opera is only for “posh people” has “taken a grip on a lot of decision makers”.
The opera industry has faced a tough couple of years, with funding cuts leading to less touring, orchestra and chorus members for several organisations, such as Welsh National Opera.
RBO has also had its subsidy reduced from £25 million to £22 million – but still remains the largest amount given to any British performing arts organisation.
In its last annual report, it said it would “tackle headwinds in the form of rising costs, increasing pressure on box office revenues and the need for significant investment to sustain our ageing capital infrastructure”.
