Sunday, November 04, 2007
China outsources opera singers
Variety: "Outsourcing is a big issue for foreign companies in China -- half the world's finished goods are made here, after all. But outsourcing opera singers is a relatively new invention, one that Opera Ireland hopes will pay dividends when it stages Puccini's 'Turandot' at the Gaiety in Dublin this month."
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8 comments:
In today's global market it seems like everything is outsourced except for service industries. What is the main reason for outsourcing something? Money of course. There are plenty of places to do things cheaper these days and managers are glad to exploit this. It does seem weird to outsource opera singers though. That's not sending production someplace else but bringing resources in. I guess maybe it's importing labor rather than outsourcing it.
What i found so interesting and true about this is when it wrote about how universal opera and the concept behind it is generally the same. Though it is in a language which we don't understand, the message is still portrayed in such a manner that can be universally understood. I think its also great that they are utilizing the singers of the country to fill the voices of the ensemble because its easier to find a younger sound.
I'm sure they're going to sing in Italian, but it will be really interesting to see Chinese production of Turandot. A few years ago, Zhang Yimou directed Turandot in Seoul with like 50 million budget. It didn't do so well in the box office, because the ticket price started from $500. Moral of the story? Outsource your actors and director so that you don't have to charge the audience for them.
The thing that's interesting to me about this article is how much it contradicts the what I've generally read about the future in outsourcing: that artists and designers (not necessarily the manufacturing part, but the idea parts) are safe from the "dangers" of outsourcing. I've always read that in the future, the artists will have a leg up in the economy, because 1) "good art" is becoming more readily available and affordable to the general public, and 2) they will have at least some protection from their work being outsourced to somewhere else. There will still be room for creativity domestically. But things brings into question "imported labor," as Aaron said, and the effects that this might have on the economy and job opportunities in the arts many years down the line. Or is there any danger? Is this simply an effect of globalization, not western economic systems involving outsourcing?
Uh, how is this outsourcing? I think that the article just wanted to use that term to make it more interesting, even when it was completely inappropriate. It's not like they are paying the Chinese singers less or having the sets built in China.
I'd agree that outsourcing doesn't seem to be the appropriate term. Just because the chorus members are from a different country than the performance location is irrelevant. These singers aren't products from a subcontractor. They are performers who were cast in the same manner that any other would be. Many American films in production in other countries cast locals in minor roles. This is basically the same thing. Nothing new.
It does not seem to be outsourcing. It's not like they are hiring the Chinese singers because they are cheaper. There at least seems to be some artistic reasons behind it. I think the exposure of different cultures on stage. It makes sense that if there are talented young singers are in China than that is where we should be hiring from there. For example at times there are when German singers are in high demand. It all depends on the time period.
I think it is not bad Turandot outsources Chinese singers because the background of this story happens in Beijing. So, it fits when Chinese singers put on the show costumes. But at this point, I wonder he chorus cost would be cheaper. The company should pay for the travel, accommodation, and per diem for these 16 people.
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