Rattle and Berlin Phil show support for striking chorus
UncategorizedThe Berlin Radio Choir, which has been operating for two decades without a working agreement, walked out on strike last month.
The choir suspended the strike this week to perform Bach’s St Matthew Passion with Simon Rattle and the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra.
In return, several of Rattle’s players wore picket-line jackets to manifest their support for the mistreated professional singers. More details here from Gerald Mertens.
It’s just shameful how Berlin is treating this world class ensemble that stems form the former Eastern part. Their colleagues that work in comparable world class ensembles on the west side, Rias Chamber Choir or Berlin Phil, enjoy much better working agreements. Makes one sad and angry to see the wall in the heads still up.
“Auch Saenger sind Musiker!” Ha! That’s a good one.