Beds Youth Orchestra can also boast some fairly successful alumni: I if I could take a moment to name just a few, you will see why the impact of this will be felt through the music world, and will have repercussions on our musical world forever.
Andrew Manze international soloist was there first leader in the early 1970’s. 

Here is an update on Teatro Colón. Both its orchestras, Orquesta Estable and Buenos Aires Philharmonic have been asking for a raise since last year. The Director and the Major not only refused to listen to their demands for better salaries and proper working conditions (the 150 million dollar renovation is not finished yet, the Theatre does not cover instrument insurance and maintenance, etc.), but when the strike started they decided to file a lawsuit for $14 million U.S. dollars against eight union representatives (four orchestra musicians, three choir members and the theatre’s official photographer) and started the administrative procedures for their dismissal instead. Tickets for performances at Teatro Colón are in the same price range as world-class operas around the world but the musicians’ salaries are barely around $1.300 USD a month. The prices were unequally raised since the last season at the Theatre in 2006: orchestra seats sell for $300 USD, 144% more, and standing tickets for $10 USD, 700% more than before.

The strike started last year at the end of the season when a government representative said that there were no plans for a raise in the 2011 budget. The director decided to start the new season without the orchestra, and staged Ligeti’s Le Grand Macabre with two pianos and percussion. Placido Domingo visited Buenos Aires for a recital at Teatro Colón and outdoors, the orchestra refused to play at the Theatre but agreed to play in the streets, as a good will gesture to Domingo and the people, asking the government to start a proper negotiation. When Domingo left 41 musicians on yearly contracts were were fired on the pretense that they were not permanent staff and if the permanent staff was on strike they were not needed.

The f

our key points for negotiation are: 40% raise, withdrawal of the millionaire lawsuit, no layoffs, no punishments (some members of the orchestra reported that their salaries showed discounts for the days on strike). A few meetings with government officials (the Director of the theatre not included) followed, but they have not reached an agreement.

Moreover, the government announced the 41 musicians would be hired again if the orchestra lifted the strike. The strike is “on hold” but not officially lifted, so they started rehearsing. At this time the 41 musicians are working for free, they have not signed their contracts and have not perceived their salaries.

On top of that, we have heard that the Director has contacted the Zagreb Philharmonic Orchestra to play the next title in our season, The Magic Flute. At this point it is clear that they have the money to hire a foreign orchestra, pay their fees plus all the traveling, cargo, hotel accomodations, etc. but they are not willing to give the local orchestras a raise. The only reason behind this could be either the idea to dismantle one or both orchestras, in order to make suspicious expensive contracts with foreign orchestras, agents and third parties.

Placido Domingo once stated that Teatro Colón was one of the few opera houses around the world that could produce everything in house, it was a self sufficient theatre-factory. The workshops are not back at the historic building, the renovation plans reduced the production areas around 60%, even the dressing rooms areas were redesigned for less musicians, singers and dancers than our permanent staff.

We would like to call international attention to this, Teatro Colón has historically been the most important opera house in Latin America, our heritage as a public theatre with in house production, permanent staff, open and accessible for all citizens is at risk.

Thank you very much.