PHILADELPHIA, Oct. 8 /PRNewswire/ -- Due to the continuing strike called on Sept. 16 by the Philadelphia Orchestra musicians, members of Local 77 of the American Federation of Musicians, the Philadelphia Orchestra Association has canceled all Orchestra performances through Oct. 12. Although negotiations resumed between the Association and the musicians' union this past weekend, no progress was reported; more talks are scheduled for tomorrow morning, Oct. 9. This is the fourth week of concerts which the Association has been forced to cancel.
Three subscription concerts are affected by this latest cancellation:
The program, conducted by Music Director Wolfgang Sawallisch, was to have included Strauss' Josephs-Legende symphonic fragment and Martinu's Symphony No. 5. This program was also to have included Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 21 in C major with Maurizio Pollini, but last month he had unfortunately canceled his entire United States tour for health reasons. This week of cancellations also affects a free student dress rehearsal scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 10, at 10:30 a.m.
The Strauss work was scheduled to be recorded by the Orchestra for EMI Classics as part of an all-Strauss disc. The disc would also have included the "Dance of the Seven Veils," from Salome; the Violin Concerto in D minor, featuring First Concertmaster Erez Ofer, and the Munich Waltz. EMI Classics has not decided whether, if the repertoire can be performed at later concerts, they would be willing to reschedule the recording sessions.
Canceled performances will not be rescheduled. The options available to ticket holders remain the same as when the strike began on Sept. 16:
Those holding passes to the Student Dress Rehearsal should call the Education Department at 215-893-1978 for more information.
All subscribers and single ticket buyers have been sent a letter outlining these options, along with a Ticket Request Form. Subscribers should hold onto tickets for any canceled concert until the strike is over. Single ticket buyers who choose any of the above options other than a refund should hold onto their tickets until the strike has ended.
If the musicians choose to return to work later this week while the negotiations continue, the Association will reinstate any of this week's concerts as long as there is sufficient time to rehearse the program and notify ticket holders.
For more information, ticket holders may call a special telephone hotline set up by the Patron Services Department at 215-893-1880.
SOURCE Philadelphia Orchestra Association
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