Portland Opera cuts 42 jobs

Portland Opera has cut the equivalent of seven full-time positions from its staff of 42 because it expects revenue will not match expenses next season. The reductions affect all areas of the company — administrative, marketing, development, production and artistic positions. The layoffs occurred by eliminating some positions, switching positions from fulltime to seasonal and reducing full-time to part-time jobs.

Christopher Mattaliano, Portland Opera’s general director, announced the reductions to the company on Tuesday. Portland Opera’s budget was $7.5 million in 2010, the last season for which audited figures are available. The company has ended the past two years in the black and plans to end the current year in the black, said Jim Fullan, director of communications and marketing.

Mattaliano declined to elaborate on revenue details or specific positions affected by the layoffs.

From: Oregon Live