DOS Orchestra #13 - 20 September 94

News from the world of professional orchestras.
Copyright 1994, International Conference of Symphony and Opera Musicians

Topics

Akron Symphony: Hall to be Refurbished

The University of Akron announced on Sept. 16 that it had received a gift of $200,000 help launch a refurbishing of the E. J. Thomas Performing Arts Hall, the main performing venue for the Akron Symphony Orchestra. The gift, which will be used to replace seats in the auditorium, was given by retired Akron businessman Charles Herberich, who said "it is important to the university and to the Akron area that we maintain (the hall) as one of the community's treasures... I want to ensure its future as Akron's entertainment and cultural center."

Dan Dahl, executive director of the facility, said that the hope was that other gifts would follow the Herberich gift for a total of $3 million, of which half has already been raised. He said that other work that would be done would include caulking, a new roof, carpeting and other enhancements.

More than 300,000 people attend performances in the hall each year. The hall opened in 1973 after a fund drive raised $10 million.

Chicago Symphony: New Labor Agreement

The musicians of the Chicago Symphony unanimously ratified a new three-year collective bargaining agreement on Sept. 17, just hours before the first subscription concert of the new season. The agreement was reached between negotiators for the Orchestral Association and the CSO musicians, represented by the Chicago Federation of Musicians, Local 10-208 AFM, and prevented a walkout that had been threatened by the musicians.

The agreement includes a $210 per week increase in base pay over three years, an increase in pension benefits, and some changes in the health care program sought by management.

A major issue for the musicians was the question of being ranked at the top nationally in terms of compensation. The CSO had recently fallen behind the New York Philharmonic in terms of base pay, but according to Charles Guse, president of the Chicago Federation of Musicians, "we're right at No. 1 again." He said the CSO's weekly base pay will increase by $100, or 7.7 percent, to $1,400, in the first year of the contract; by $60, or 4.3 percent, to $1,460, in the second year; and by $50, or 3.4 percent, to $1,510, in the third year. The annual pension benefit, currently $40,000, will increase to $45,000 by the end of the contract.

The health care program changes that were made involve raising the deductibles for musicians not enrolled in a Preferred Provider Option program.

According to Henry Fogel, executive director of the CSO, average annual compensation for CSO members in 1993 was $105,000, including seniority payments, overscale for principal players, overtime, and income from electronic media activity.

Daniel Barenboim, music director of the CSO, received compensation from the CSO of $712,638 in the fiscal year ending June 30, 1993, according to information obtained by the Chicago Tribune.

Cincinnati Symphony: Play and Talk

Cincinnati Symphony musicians played concerts on Sept. 16 and 17, even though negotiations for a new labor agreement to replace the one that expired on Sept. 4 have been stalled since Sept. 1.

At issue is the restoration of a 52-week season for the orchestra. The musicians had agreed to five layoff weeks over the past three seasons to help the management and board eliminate an $8.5 million debt.

Also a problem in the negotiations is the orchestra's pension plan, which is only partially funded. New federal regulations regarding pensions could cost the CSO millions of dollars.

Martin James, CSO bassoonist and chair of the musicians' negotiating committee said "''That's what's holding things up. I think the board feels that until they have some idea of where the numbers are, they can't make a full commitment. But as far as the orchestra is concerned, a commitment was made to end these concessions in Sept. '94 - we have a letter of agreement that said that - so they were extremely upset when they couldn't get any assurance that they would end.'' One possibility being discussed is to combine the CSO's pension plan with the union's pension plan, which is fully funded, according to James.

The players voted Sept. 1 to authorize their bargaining committee to call a strike. A strike is unlikely, said James. ''We are anxious to get on with the season.''

CSO board president Stephen P. Donovan Jr. said he did not know when a new proposal would be made to the musicians' negotiating committee. ''There are many alternate plans that need to be considered.''

Cleveland Orchestra Receives Grant for Schools Program

The Cleveland Plain Dealer announced a pledge of $250,000 to the Cleveland Orchestra on Sept. 18 to support a music education program for students in the Cleveland public schools. Plain Dealer president and publisher Alex Machaskee said "it is our sincere hope that the young people of our city will learn from this rich educational and cultural experience, and that they will perhaps better appreciate the accolades that the Cleveland Orchestra continues to receive around the world... because of the financial distress that plagues the school system, these concerts and the activities surrounding them often represent the only music education that many Cleveland students receive. Therefore, it is essential that we ensure the continued viability of this outstanding educational program for these students."

The money will be used to offset the operating deficit the orchestra runs by providing the educational concerts.

Fort Wayne Philharmonic: Associate Conductor Resigns

The associate conductor of the Fort Wayne Philharmonic, David Crowe, has resigned, but may continue to work part-time with the orchestra into the coming season, music director Edvard Tchivzhel announced. Crowe is moving to Charlotte NC, where his wife, Kathy Crowe, has accepted a position as features designer with the Charlotte Observer.

Crowe, who is also a composer, came to Fort Wayne in 1985. He also conducted the Fort Wayne Youth Symphony and taught locally.

As the search for a replacement, Tchivzhel said "we're not in a panic. It may be a long procedure."

Houston Symphony: Musicians Authorize Strike

Members of the Houston Symphony voted on Sept. 18 to authorize the negotiating committee to call a strike at any time. The musicians have been playing without a contract for almost four months.

Committee chair and HSO violist Tom Elliot said that the musicians are "increasing restless, frustrated and angry" about the negotiations.

The committee proposed on August 30 to shift the pension to the American Federation of Musicians pension fund, which would increase the benefits payable to the musicians and reduce the required payment by management, thus freeing up funds for higher salaries and payment of dependent health insurance. The HSO is one of only a handful of major American orchestras that does not pay its musicians' health insurance premiums in full.

HSO executive director David Wax indicated that the proposal, although promising, required considerable legal and financial research, which had just been completed. He said that another negotiating session would be held as soon as schedules permitted.

New Zealand Symphony Orchestra On the Web

The New Zealand Symphony Orchestra has become the first orchestra to have its own page on the World Wide Web. The page is maintained by NZSO Principal Bass Dale Gold, an avid netter and Amiga user. The page contains information about the orchestra's upcoming concerts, currently available recordings, other musical groups in New Zealand, and Mr. Gold himself, as well as links to other Web servers providing information about both music and New Zealand.

The address of the NZSO's Web page is:
http://www.actrix.gen.nz/users/dgold/nzso.html

Paris Opera: Music Director Begins His Departure

Myung-Whun Chung, fired music director of the Paris Opera, conducted the first of his final run of performances with the company on Sept. 19 to wild applause and demonstrations of support by the audience and orchestra. The performance of Verdi's "Simon Boccanegra" was the first of 10 performances of the opera that Chung will conduct before his departure in November.

When Chung entered the pit to begin the performance, he was cheered for a full minute while some in the audience shouted "Cluzel resign" and "Gang of No-goods" (in French, of course). After the performance, during a lengthy standing ovation, many members of the orchestra tossed flowers onto the stage as Chung was taking his bows.

After the performance, Chung said "I'm sorry to leave the musicians. I'm not so sorry to leave the administration, but life is like that, and you move on. I continue, my musical life continues. I have lots of engagements."

Chung is being dismissed by the incoming management of the Paris Opera over a dispute about his compensation and artistic authority.

Pittsburgh Symphony: Labor Negotiations Extended

The Pittsburgh Symphony Society and the musicians of the Pittsburgh Symphony agreed to a 15-day extension of their contract negotiations that had been requested by Allegheny County Commissioner Tom Foerster and Pittsburgh Mayor Tom Murphy.

The request, which was contained in a letter signed by Foerster and Murphy, included an offer for the Three Rivers Labor Management Committee to participate in the negotiations.

The extension averted a shutdown of the orchestra, which would have begun at the PSO's season opener concert on Sept.16, that had been threatened by the musicians.

Hampton Mallory, the chair of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra Committee, said in a prepared statement before the musicians had voted to extend the negotiations: "We applaud and are grateful for the voice of concern from Commissioner Foerster and Mayor Murphy, and for their leadership in taking this bold initiative. Their action underscores how important our contract negotiations are not just for the Orchestra and musicians, but for all Western Pennsylvania. Our goal has always been to attract and retain the best musicians in the world. Our recent, highly successful European tour reminds all of us that this Orchestra is one of Western Pennsylvania's most important assets. We want to work with management to keep that momentum going. But we will not sacrifice the long-term viability of this institution by making it impossible for the world's best musicians to succeed here. Without the best musicians here, this Orchestra cannot keep its ranking as one of the world's best Orchestras."

"Let there be no misunderstanding now. Regardless of whether our members accept the request from the Commissioner and the Mayor, a simple fact remains: The clock is ticking. Management must quickly come to a definitive and satisfactory agreement with the musicians. Otherwise, there will be a strike, if not tomorrow then in two weeks."

At issue is management's demand that the musicians accept a three-year wage freeze. The PSO is currently in the process of raising new endowment monies of approximately $70 million, which would make its total endowment $140 million. Management's most recent proposal, presented to the negotiating committee on Sept. 13, included raises in the second and third years of a new agreement that would be offset by unspecified savings in expenses.

Gideon Toeplitz, PSO executive vice-president and managing director, said "We believe the members of the Pittsburgh Symphony care about this wonderful community asset and would prefer to read musical scores rather than picket signs. The Society is looking for ways of increasing the musicians compensation package while still decreasing the draw on our endowment. We must protect and grow the endowment because it protects our future existence."

Rome Opera Fires Menotti

Composer Gian Carlo Menotti was fired as artistic director of the Rome Opera on Sept. 16. Opera superintendent Giorgio Vidusso said that the termination of Menotti was due to artistic differences, one of which was Menotti's insistence on opening the season with Wagner's "Lohengrin."

Vidusso said "It is unheard-of for an artistic director to impose his choices (on the opera). What we put on can be discussed, of course, but the superintendent makes the final decision."

Menotti told the press that he was "very bitter" about the decision.

"I was called in when the theater was plunged in a disastrous crisis and, among a thousand difficulties, I brought last season to an end," he said. "What good is an artistic director if he cannot do his job and choose the season, but only follow the will of the superintendent?"

Last year, Menotti, who had twice won the Pulitzer Prize, severed his relationship with the Spoleto Festival in Charleston (SC) in another dispute over control.
DOS Orchestra is wrapped as a setext file. For information about the setext markup, send a message to robert.levine@mixcom.com with the single word "setext" (no quotes) in the subject line, and a file will be returned to you.

DOS Orchestra is a publication of the International Conference of Symphony and Opera Musicians (ICSOM) and is published more or less weekly. ICSOM is an affiliated conference of the American Federation of Musicians of the United States and Canada, AFL-CIO. DOS Orchestra may be freely distributed as long as it is distributed in its entirety and no charge is made for the redistribution. Any other unauthorized reproduction of any part of DOS Orchestra is strictly forbidden, except that non-profit, non-commercial publications may reprint articles if full credit is given. All rights reserved.
DOS Orchestra Index