Orchestra chief resigns over swelling deficit
mainOne of the sorriest sagas in Dutch music ended today with the resignation of Harm Mannak as chief executive of HET symfonieorkest, orchestra of the East Netherlands.
Mannak, who made himself unpopular by taking another orchestra to court in a name dispute, claimed he would put the orchestra on a firm financial footing without structural state subsidy by 2018.
But a report out tomorrow will show (we hear) that HET is spending 5 million Euros a year, against subsidy of 3.5m. So Mannak (l.) has gone and there are fears the orch may not long outlast him.
Spending more money than you have as a rule? It works so well for politicians, why not with orchestras too! /s
Unlike orchestras, politicians always seem to find a source to sustain their overspending.
It is one of the best orchestras in the country, so hopefully a solution will be found. Given the thoroughly populist climate in Holland, where ‘classical music’ is increasingly considered an elitist hobby of the rich, this will not be easy.
So the Netherlands is turning into the US?
After WW II, the Netherlands have always looked to the USA for inspiration, NOT to the rest of Europe. That means that the country is not really European, a conclusion that any non-Dutch person living for some time in the country, would confirm.
Ehm…one of the best orchestras in the Netherlands? Not really. However I hope indeed the best for this orchestra.