Detroit Symphony Suspended Season at last

とうとうDetroit Symphony は2010～2011 season を　Cancel ではなく Suspend しました．地元新聞が 社説で，デトロイトの置かれた経済状況の現実を辨えなかったからだと強い調子でmusicians を非難しています．

Hope is giving way to reality in the five-month Detroit Symphony Orchestra strike. After musicians rejected its final offer, DSO management suspended the season, notifying guest artists and ticket holders that the scheduled concerts are not likely to go on.

That's a tough blow for Detroit, which has lost so many things it cherished during this prolonged economic crisis. But the orchestra can't spend money it doesn't have, even to maintain a symphony that is hailed as one of the world's best.

Simply put, Detroit can't afford the current orchestra, unless the operating model changes substantially.　　this is Detroit, and few organizations here have survived without changing their operating models to reflect the city's diminished economic status.

the musicians recognized the need for salary concessions. But they have not come around to getting more involved in building audiences and courting donors.

Generous supporters have tried to grease a settlement by putting up $2 million to compensate musicians for the extra community work. Instead, the musicians tried to grab half that restricted money to enhance salaries, without agreeing to the extra work.

musicians not only put the symphony at risk, but their own careers as well

We urge all parties to continue working toward an agreement that works for the musicians, management and the community and that returns classical music to Orchestra Hall. 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　But reality demands it be played by an orchestra Detroit can afford.

この社説とは別の記事が掲載されていて，次の2点が懸念されています．　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　1．そろそろ健全な orchestra が来シーズンの schedule を公表する時期なので，早急に体制を作らないと，2011～2012 season の編成が出来なくなる．　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　誰も紛争後で将来の定まらない orchestra と出演契約することは期待できないでしょう．　　　    2. Cancel ではなく suspension だと，優秀な楽員でも，union の強い音楽業界では，おいそれと新規雇用契約を結んでくれるところはないでしょう．

という2点です．両当事者特にmusicians は，交渉の切り札に，こんな低処遇では Top musicians が引き抜かれて，orchestra のレベルが低下するといっていたのですが，当分の間そんな心配は無用のことだったようですね．

 

Last Updated: February 21. 2011 1:00AM

Editorial: DSO discord ignores reality

Rejection of contract offer reflects a disconnect with Detroit's diminished economic status

The Detroit News

Hope is giving way to reality in the five-month Detroit Symphony Orchestra strike. After musicians rejected its final offer, DSO management suspended the season, notifying guest artists and ticket holders that the scheduled concerts are not likely to go on.

That's a tough blow for Detroit, which has lost so many things it cherished during this prolonged economic crisis. But the orchestra can't spend money it doesn't have, even to maintain a symphony that is hailed as one of the world's best.

Simply put, Detroit can't afford the current orchestra, unless the operating model changes substantially.

That's why DSO management asked for steep concessions from its musicians, along with contract changes that would engage them in building broader community support for their product.

To their credit, the musicians recognized the need for salary concessions. But they have not come around to getting more involved in building audiences and courting donors.

After the so-called final contract offer was rejected by musicians Saturday, Joe Goldman, a member of the bargaining committee, asked, "Why do they want to pick this time to reinvent the model?"

The first answer to that question is that this is Detroit, and few organizations here have survived without changing their operating models to reflect the city's diminished economic status.

Beyond that, the DSO is staring at insolvency. Its banks have called $54 million in loans. Its endowment has dropped to $19 million from $80 million in a decade. Its donor base has withered to 5,000 from 25,000, with many of its most generous individual and corporate contributors no longer in the picture.

The choice is to change the model now, or go out of business within a few years.

Even with the pay concessions, the DSO is offering more than it can cover with current revenue. Management has committed to an aggressive fundraising campaign to ensure that this contract doesn't bankrupt the orchestra.

Generous supporters have tried to grease a settlement by putting up $2 million to compensate musicians for the extra community work. Instead, the musicians tried to grab half that restricted money to enhance salaries, without agreeing to the extra work.

So now management is moving on, looking for opportunities to bring other concerts and events to the Max. It has left the door open for resumed negotiations by suspending, rather than canceling, the season.

But the lost ticket sales and contributions caused by the strike mean musicians will likely see a diminished offer in the next round of talks.

In rejecting a contract designed to give the DSO a fighting chance at a healthy future, musicians not only put the symphony at risk, but their own careers as wellEven with the pay concessions, they would remain the 12th-highest paid orchestra in the country. Openings in symphonies that pay more than the DSO are limited.

We urge all parties to continue working toward an agreement that works for the musicians, management and the community and that returns classical music to Orchestra Hall.

But reality demands it be played by an orchestra Detroit can afford.