Minnesota Opera Musicians Call Off Locked-Out Premiere, Then Play Anyway

By Daniel Okafor

The Minnesota Opera Orchestra has accused company management of a de facto lockout, weeks after canceling the October 31 opening night of a world premiere. The musicians' statement, released following the postponement of "The Many Deaths of Laila Starr," pulls no punches about who they blame.

The opera was set to run Oct. 31 through Nov. 8, 2026, with a cast featuring Leela Subramaniam, Omar Najmi, Efraín Solís, Mariam Mouawad, Ashraf Sewailam, and Emily Finke. That world premiere is now on ice.

What did the musicians say?

The statement from the Musicians of the Minnesota Opera Orchestra is blunt. "Minnesota Opera management has effectively locked out its audiences, artists and professional orchestra and canceled the October 31 opening night of a world premiere, even as negotiations have continued," the musicians said.

They didn't stop there. "The decision is another demonstration of failed leadership that disrespects the artists, the audience, and the Minnesota community that has supported the company for generations," the statement continues. "Canceling a world premiere as negotiations are continuing is an abandonment of responsibility to the community. This decision disrespects the artists who have devoted themselves to this production, the audiences who have supported Minnesota Opera, and the community that expects better from one of its major arts institutions."

That's four separate uses of "disrespect" in one paragraph. The tone is unmistakable.

Why was the premiere postponed?

The postponement follows a strike authorization (a formal vote giving union negotiators permission to call a work stoppage) by the Minnesota Opera Orchestra. The musicians authorized that strike after management proposed a second consecutive four-year contract with no wage increases.

Two four-year deals. Eight years. Zero raises. The arithmetic explains the temperature of the negotiations.

Can you still hear the orchestra?

Yes, and for free. The musicians announced a concert of their own making.

"On November 1st at 7 p.m. we are presenting a free concert of beloved opera overtures, arias, and choruses for the Twin Cities community!" the musicians said in their statement.

The evening will feature the Opera Orchestra and Friends at the Ted Mann Concert Hall, University of Minnesota. Michael Christie will conduct, joined by Singers of the Minnesota Opera Chorus and Friends.

The scheduling is pointed: one night after the canceled opening, the orchestra will play the repertoire audiences expected anyway — overtures, arias, choruses — just without the production around it.

What happens next?

The statement leaves little doubt that negotiations are ongoing and trust is thin. Whether the Laila Starr premiere finds new dates — and on what contractual terms — will shape labor relations at one of the Midwest's major opera companies for years to come.