Breaking: Musical chaos at Radio France amid rumours the maestro has quit

The Orchestre philarmonique de Radio France has declared a strike, starting Thursday, following the forced resignation of its capable and popular artistic director Eric Montalbetti.

The musicians are protesting – this reads much better in French contre “les méthodes brutales employées par la nouvelle direction de Radio France qui ont forcé leur directeur artistique à la démission”. 

We understand that the music director, Mikko Franck, had a two-hour conversation over the weekend with the director general of Radio France. It appears there is a plan to merge two radio orchestra, the Philharmonique and the National.

Franck promptly withdrew from the forthcoming concerts. We are trying to clarify whether he has resigned altogether.

Either way, chaos is probably an understatement.

UPDATE: Latest here.