Last year, the Brazilian Symphony Orchestra celebrated 70 years of activities. There were over 100 concerts to an estimated public of 190 000 people, according to the institution itself. Also a significant increase in the budget of the orchestra was reported, with funds coming from public policy sponsored by the federal government.
What could indicate a time of reward to the musicians of the orchestra, which for years received low wages, facing the worst working conditions and sacrificed much of his personal life in favor of this institution had become a worldly unprecedented drama. Only two days after the start of their collective holidays – traditionally in January in Brazil – were surprised by a statement informing that all OSB musicians would be subject to a “performance evaluation” provided with no discretion and without any discussion with the orchestral body or its leaders. Following this statement, the orchestra management announced that the orchestra would have their activities suspended until the month of July, and the concerts of the season in March, April, May and June would be conducted by the Brazilian Youth Symphony. At the same time they announced competitions for posts to be held in London, New York and finally in Rio de Janeiro.
It was thus clarified that the project will lead to mass dismissals, leading to the absurd situation of changing an entire orchestra to meet the demand of a single person, maestro Roberto Minczuk. For some time the orchestra and its conductor have not been speaking the same language, especially after the dismissal of 14 musicians on the eve of Christmas, in 2006, as well as his attempts to dismiss older musicians and those who opposed his leadership .
At the same time, admonitions are sent by the orchestra management warning that the absence to procedure will lead to a severe punishment and even the interruption of the work contract. Despite all this embarrassment, 56 of the 82 musicians who make up the orchestral body, meeting in Assembly decided not to undertake this “performance evaluation”, in protest against disrespect, arrogance and lack of dialogue that are being submitted.
Thus, we ask your support against this violence which the musicians from the most traditional orchestra in Brazil are undergoing, preventing that the most basic human rights – the right to work – is not usurped and that those responsible for this abnormality are properly accountable.
Last year, the Brazilian Symphony Orchestra celebrated 70 years of activities. There were over 100 concerts to an estimated public of 190 000 people, according to the institution itself. Also a significant increase in the budget of the orchestra was reported, with funds coming from public policy sponsored by the federal government.
What could indicate a time of reward to the musicians of the orchestra, which for years received low wages, facing the worst working conditions and sacrificed much of his personal life in favor of this institution had become a worldly unprecedented drama. Only two days after the start of their collective holidays – traditionally in January in Brazil – were surprised by a statement informing that all OSB musicians would be subject to a “performance evaluation” provided with no discretion and without any discussion with the orchestral body or its leaders. Following this statement, the orchestra management announced that the orchestra would have their activities suspended until the month of July, and the concerts of the season in March, April, May and June would be conducted by the Brazilian Youth Symphony. At the same time they announced competitions for posts to be held in London, New York and finally in Rio de Janeiro.
It was thus clarified that the project will lead to mass dismissals, leading to the absurd situation of changing an entire orchestra to meet the demand of a single person, maestro Roberto Minczuk. For some time the orchestra and its conductor have not been speaking the same language, especially after the dismissal of 14 musicians on the eve of Christmas, in 2006, as well as his attempts to dismiss older musicians and those who opposed his leadership .
At the same time, admonitions are sent by the orchestra management warning that the absence to procedure will lead to a severe punishment and even the interruption of the work contract. Despite all this embarrassment, 56 of the 82 musicians who make up the orchestral body, meeting in Assembly decided not to undertake this “performance evaluation”, in protest against disrespect, arrogance and lack of dialogue that are being submitted.
Thus, we ask your support against this violence which the musicians from the most traditional orchestra in Brazil are undergoing, preventing that the most basic human rights – the right to work – is not usurped and that those responsible for this abnormality are properly accountable.
The Rumanian soprano Angela Gheorgiu has pulled out of the Met yet again. Last season she scrubbed Carmen, muttering about problems in her marriage to – the equally problematic – Roberto Alagna. This season, she’s pulled on Don Carlo – not right for her voice – and Roméo et Juliette (not feeling well). She has also announced she won’t do Faust next season.
Lady Geo-Geo is one of the great drama queens of the opera stage. She has complained in the past of being misunderstood. To the Met, she is making herself perfectly clear. She just doesn’t like the guys in charge. Get used to it.
I’d better see if she’ll do a Lebrecht Interview this summer.
photo: nobelpeaceprize.org
The Rumanian soprano Angela Gheorgiu has pulled out of the Met yet again. Last season she scrubbed Carmen, muttering about problems in her marriage to – the equally problematic – Roberto Alagna. This season, she’s pulled on Don Carlo – not right for her voice – and Roméo et Juliette (not feeling well). She has also announced she won’t do Faust next season.
Lady Geo-Geo is one of the great drama queens of the opera stage. She has complained in the past of being misunderstood. To the Met, she is making herself perfectly clear. She just doesn’t like the guys in charge. Get used to it.
I’d better see if she’ll do a Lebrecht Interview this summer.
photo: nobelpeaceprize.org
Isabelle Faust, the German violinist who has been named as one of the foreign musicians in the contentious Brazil Symphony Orchestra auditions, has informed me through her agent that she will not audition musicians or serve or serve on any jury while she is in Rio. She is contracted to perform Beethoven’s violin concerto on May 11, and that’s it. Her sole purpose there is to play the violin.
‘We are investigating, as a matter of urgency, how it has come about that her name appears to have become linked to this proposed action and, when we have more information, will let you know,’ said agents Hazard Chase Ltd.
Musicians will be greatly relieved to learn that this fine musician has nothing to do with the unpleasant affair. Here’s her latest release, the Brahms concerto with the Mahler Chamber Orchestra and Daniel Harding.
Isabelle Faust, the German violinist who has been named as one of the foreign musicians in the contentious Brazil Symphony Orchestra auditions, has informed me through her agent that she will not audition musicians or serve or serve on any jury while she is in Rio. She is contracted to perform Beethoven’s violin concerto on May 11, and that’s it. Her sole purpose there is to play the violin.
‘We are investigating, as a matter of urgency, how it has come about that her name appears to have become linked to this proposed action and, when we have more information, will let you know,’ said agents Hazard Chase Ltd.
Musicians will be greatly relieved to learn that this fine musician has nothing to do with the unpleasant affair. Here’s her latest release, the Brahms concerto with the Mahler Chamber Orchestra and Daniel Harding.
Among the many things you can do in Salzburg between one opera and the next marzipan ball is visit the state-licensed prostitutes on the street where Mozart was born – just a few minutes’ stroll from where ‘Silent Night’ was first heard.
I offer this information from an official Salzburg tour site which was brought to my attention by artists who are being offered accommodation on the same lane.
Now prostitution may be an older profession than music and no-one would ever confuse one for the other. But it does seem callous, even by Austrian standards, to be selling both services off the same site and without the faintest wink of irony.
The sex workers, we are informed, ‘have little red lanterns in front of their main entrance’. I guess opera singers don’t.
And here’s its post-Mozart usp.
Among the many things you can do in Salzburg between one opera and the next marzipan ball is visit the state-licensed prostitutes on the street where Mozart was born – just a few minutes’ stroll from where ‘Silent Night’ was first heard.
I offer this information from an official Salzburg tour site which was brought to my attention by artists who are being offered accommodation on the same lane.
Now prostitution may be an older profession than music and no-one would ever confuse one for the other. But it does seem callous, even by Austrian standards, to be selling both services off the same site and without the faintest wink of irony.
The sex workers, we are informed, ‘have little red lanterns in front of their main entrance’. I guess opera singers don’t.
And here’s its post-Mozart usp.
Musicians in many countries are now blacking out their Facebook pictures in support of players in the Brazil Symphony Orchestra, who are being made to reaudition for their own jobs. Pressure is also being put on five foreign judges not to participate in the audition process.
Among those leading the resistance is Ole Bohn, concertmaster of Norway’s national orchestra, and Alex Klein, former principal oboe of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. There are also indications that the Brazil SO music director Roberto Minczuk may face a musicians’ boycott if he attempts to conduct abroad.
Protests continue to mount and discussions are simmering across instrumental chat sites and message boards. Further progress will be reported first here.
Elsewhere in Rio, the Guardian reports (below), it’s carnival as usual.
Musicians in many countries are now blacking out their Facebook pictures in support of players in the Brazil Symphony Orchestra, who are being made to reaudition for their own jobs. Pressure is also being put on five foreign judges not to participate in the audition process.
Among those leading the resistance is Ole Bohn, concertmaster of Norway’s national orchestra, and Alex Klein, former principal oboe of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. There are also indications that the Brazil SO music director Roberto Minczuk may face a musicians’ boycott if he attempts to conduct abroad.
Protests continue to mount and discussions are simmering across instrumental chat sites and message boards. Further progress will be reported first here.
Elsewhere in Rio, the Guardian reports (below), it’s carnival as usual.
