Orchestra goes on strike in Washington DC
OrchestrasThe National Symphony Orchestra has erased the start of its season.
Statement from the Kennedy Center:
After months of largely collaborative and constructive labor negotiations, the Kennedy Center and the National Symphony Orchestra (NSO) are disappointed to share that the NSO musicians, AFM Local 161-710, have decided to go on strike, effective today, Friday, September 27, thereby canceling the NSO 2024–2025 Season Opening Gala concert on Saturday, September 28.
That’s San Fran and DC on the picket line. Who’s next?
Kennedy Center fans of Yunchan Lim can’t seem to get a break. His first scheduled appearance, a recital in September 2023, was canceled due to an injury. Now this, when he was to play Rach 2 with the NSO.
Try again April 27, 2025, for the Goldberg Variations.
This is likely a poor decisions by the musicians.
They likely view it as giving them the most public visibility regarding their position on the disagreements.
They almost certainly would have been far better off continuing to negotiate.
If I was a patron of the National Symphony Orchestra, I would only be marginally sympathetic to the position of the musicians, based on what information I am currently able to access regarding the contract negotiations.
This is likely a poor decision by the musicians.
They likely view it as giving them the most public visibility regarding their position on the disagreements.
They almost certainly would have been far better off continuing to negotiate.
If I was a patron of the National Symphony Orchestra, I would only be marginally sympathetic to the position of the musicians, based on what information I am currently able to access regarding the contract negotiations.
Please post this updated (grammatically corrected) comment. Thank you.
Cancelling the fund-raising event – that will be good for the long-term finances of the orchestra.
The Kennedy Center had sent us a notice that the concert was cancelled because of the strike. Now the Center and the NSO have just agreed to a new contract and we have been told that the concert is back on.
This is the DC debut of Yunchan Lim doing Rach 2nd. Many people from out of town had made plans to come, the concert was a sellout, and though I am no expert, I suspect this had a lot to do with these last moves on the part of the musicians and the Center.
It was the Kennedy Center who first issued the notice that the concert would be cancelled. The musicians were willing to play it if an agreement could be reached. The Kennedy Center has not exactly covered itself in glory with these moves.
The strike seems to be over:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/music/2024/09/27/national-symphony-orchestra-strike-kennedy-center/
Not for long. It’s already over: https://www.kennedy-center.org/nso/home/statement/.
I really am starting to wonder how much longer the current model of large permanent symphony orchestras supported mostly by endowments and government grants is going to continue? And if it doesn’t continue, how many young musicians are going to slog their way expensively through conservatories with diminishing prospects of employment at the end of their studies? And what kind of market will there be for heldendirigents?
What about America trying the tested model of full state support for its performing arts like most of civilised Europe does?
Cleetus and Jan from Idaho would never give their tax dollars to the wealthy elite in tails.
They dramatically succeeded in the negotiations, and the season opening gala will go on as planned. But all subscribers and ticket purchasers have already received cancellation emails, there will likely be many empty seats.
The strike was short-lived (only a few hours). The Opening Gala went on as scheduled with no further interruption.
The orchestra and management came to a tentative 18-month contract, with negotiations to occur again in 2026.
A reasonable solution in a reasonable amount of time, it seems.
Agreement has been reached, the strike has been canceled, tonight’s opening and future performances go ahead as planned.