Say it isn't so! Deja vu in Atlanta and the "unsustainable model"

After what seemed like an August full of surgeries (left cataract--planned; right knee reconstruction--unplanned), I'm finally more or less moving toward normality.  Some medications have been arguing with each other; I guess some of those warnings on tv advertisements are true.  I've still managed to keep up with some of the unfortunate happenings in the world around us.

The orchestra world was in turmoil just two years ago, as recorded here.  Since that time, there is some sense of normalcy in the Twin Cities as Michael Henson is out and Osmo Vanska is back on the podium where he belongs.  The long and drawn out drama at the Metropolitan Opera ended without losing any part of the current season although one has to wonder how much animus remains for Peter Gelb.  James Levine will be back in a larger role (no pun intended) but Fabio Luisi, citing many commitments elsewhere, is out as Principal Conductor.  This guy is hot right now and it's unfortunate that the Met is losing him, especially given Levine's recent health history.  Still, it's the Met and they can probably get a decent leader at a moment's notice, as long as it's not Christoph Eschenbach.

Just two years ago the Atlanta Symphony was embroiled in an albeit brief 2012 lockout, after which the players accepted large salary (more than 14%, according to the NY Times) cuts and a resultant decline in its permanent complement.  All of the signs from the management indicated that the ensemble couldn't maintain its "current business model."  That has to be a management favorite because its been trotted out again and, since the end of August, the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra is once again on a forced hiatus.  A small sample of management's basic argument is based upon deficits that have accumulated over a number of years (many of which were overseen my Allison Vulgamore, who left her post in Atlanta only to lead the Philadelphia Orchestra into Chapter 11).

For the last 12 years, the ASO has operated each year with significant operating deficits, with costs outstripping revenues. That is an unsustainable trend.

The deficits are created in large part by adhering to a traditional operating model, one that hasn’t changed through decades despite dramatic shifts in consumer interests, the economy and competition for the entertainment dollar. The inability to change models has led to economic challenges at many orchestras around the country.

Much more of the management response to the lockout is found on the ASO's website.

If this is an "unsustainable trend" now, it certainly was two years ago and the fact that the parent organization is coming back to the players to clean its own house is unforgivable.  Naturally, these actions continue to resonate throughout the cultural community, just as they did during the 16-month (yes, it was that long) battle in Minnesota.  The players have demonstrated their willingness to "play and talk" (under the old collective bargaining agreement) but Stanley Romanstein, CEO, has chosen the "nuclear" (maybe we should now call it the "Henson") option.

September 17, 2014

I am pleased to report that the musicians of the NY Philharmonic have voted to send $10,000 to our beleaguered colleagues in Atlanta. We will continue to watch the situation closely, and send additional money as necessary. We will also be sending a strongly worded letter to the management and board of the ASO, voicing our outrage at the situation.

We wish all of our colleagues in Atlanta great strength.

In solidarity,
Ken Mirkin

Dear Atlanta Symphony Musicians, The Musicians of the Utah Symphony stand in unwavering solidarity with our friends and colleagues in the Atlanta Symphony as they fight courageously to preserve the legacy of their great orchestra. We are sending an initial donation of $5,000 to support their efforts and encourage all lovers of great music and art to visit the Atlanta Symphony Musicians' website at http://www.atlsymphonymusicians.com/ to join us in supporting this vital cause. As Atlanta Symphony Maestros Robert Spano and Donald Runnicles so eloquently stated in a letter to the ASO board, "Sustainability must also be applied to a quality of the orchestra and the notion of excellence, not only to finances. There are artistic lines that cannot and must not be crossed." WAC's stated desire for maintaining artistic excellence while at the same time reducing the orchestra's size and compensation are utterly incompatible. There are fundamental artistic requirements necessitating a major orchestra to have a full compliment of players. One cannot present an exceptional concert with a third of the players missing or replaced, any more than one can feature Lang Lang on a baby grand with a third of the keys sticking. We urge WAC, The ASO Management, and the ASO board to join their musicians in seeking a reasonable contract that preserves and continues the exceptional musical legacy of the Atlanta Symphony. We remind those parties that the Atlanta Symphony Musicians are willing to go back to work immediately under the terms of their concessionary contract of two years ago while negotiations continue, preventing further damage to the reputation of this great orchestra. Once again, in the words of Runnicles and Spano: "Two years ago, our musicians accepted huge concessions with an expectation that, in so doing, both board and management would be able to steer the organization out of financial distress. We ask the board and management to acknowledge the sacrifice the musicians have already made, and to examine other ways and areas to establish sustainability." In Solidarity, The Musicians of the Utah Symphony

AND, on top of locking out the players, the ASO management has suspended auditions for the organization's Youth Orchestra, citing a "mandate" from the local musician's union not to participate in any of that organization's activities.  It's not true, but for the whole story, read here.

Music Director Robert Spano

Unlike many other music directors of embroiled orchestras (Vanska excepted), Robert Spano and Donald Runnicles, leaders of the ASO, weighed in on the events in an impassioned letter.  For more, check out this article along with the text of the entire letter.

This is just the tip of the iceberg and, to understand the entirety of this mess, one has to comprehend the truly odd management structure of the ASO.  This will be investigated in future installments.  Stay tuned.