World-class soprano Eva Kong has spoken out about the realities of working under Opera Australia's former artistic director, Lyndon Terracini.
"Previously it was very chaotic, I don't know how to say this in a nice way," she told AAP.
Allegations of infighting have dogged Opera Australia for years, and Kong is believed to be the first contracted star to speak publicly about Terracini's leadership.
He quit last October more than a year before his contract ended, after 13 years in charge of the company's artistic agenda.
Kong has described an environment in which Terracini tended to hire favourites, while singers who were not in his favour struggled for work.
She believes the national company narrowed its priorities during the years he was at the helm.
"Any empire goes a long time with one ruler, it focuses only on certain areas, (Opera Australia) is the same," she said.
Terracini declined to comment on Kong's remarks when contacted by AAP. Opera Australia has also declined to comment.
The former artistic director has previously rejected allegations he made inappropriate comments during a production of Phantom of the Opera earlier in 2022.
"I've never made insulting or inappropriate remarks to singers in any coaching session that I've ever had, and I've probably done hundreds and hundreds," he told AAP late last year.
A recent survey also showed staff were concerned about bullying within the organisation.
Korean-born Kong stars as Cio-Cio-San with fellow soprano Karah Son in Opera Australia's latest production of Madama Butterfly on Sydney Harbour, programmed as part of Terracini's final season.
Kong acknowledged Terracini did an "amazing" job finding new platforms for shows, such as the productions staged on Sydney Harbour.
But as a singer who started on the lowest rung at the company in 2014 after her contract to cover a lead role was suddenly cancelled, she wants fairness and security for leads and chorus alike.
"I want to see more fair treatment of everyone, I would love to see the actual contracts work," she said.
If what Opera Australia needs is fresh leadership, at least it has that: UK director Jo Davies has been appointed as artistic director and will take up the role in November 2023.
Chief executive Fiona Allan stepped into her job in late 2021, while former ACCC boss Rod Sims was appointed to chair the board last September.
Terracini's tenure was bookended by financial turnarounds - he took on the job in 2009 during the GFC, doubling ticket sales with a program of popular classics.
The COVID-19 pandemic forced the company to cancel most of its 2021 season and it slumped to a $23 million loss, before notching up its biggest ever year at the box office in 2022.
