In Wednesday’s (10/3) Star-Tribune (Minneapolis), Graydon Royce reports, “Musicians from the Minnesota Orchestra will try to do it on their own. With the first six weeks of the fall season canceled and the union locked out in a labor dispute, musicians said Tuesday they are negotiating to stage a concert on Oct. 19. ‘We are in talks with the Convention Center to present an opening-night concert on our own,’ said cellist Tony Ross, a member of the musicians’ negotiating team. ‘We’re also in discussions with former music directors to see if they would help.’ The orchestra’s 2012-13 season had been planned for the Minneapolis Convention Center because Orchestra Hall is being renovated. Because the orchestra canceled the first six weeks of the season on Monday, the musicians said they assume the center’s auditorium would be available. If not, Ross said, the musicians will look at other possible venues. … Orchestra management said in a statement: ‘We respect our musicians’ decision to offer a concert. It doesn’t change the fundamental issue the Minnesota Orchestra is facing: we need our players to accept the financial realities of 2012.’ The musicians said Tuesday the concert would be free for those who already had tickets for opening night. … Gwen Pappas, an orchestra spokesperson, said that any concert the musicians perform should be considered unrelated to tickets that patrons currently hold for the nine canceled concerts in October and November.”
Posted October 3, 2012
