In Monday’s (9/3) Courier-Journal (Louisville, Kentucky), Elizabeth Kramer writes, “After a protracted labor dispute, the Louisville Orchestra will open its season Saturday with fewer musicians, a reduced budget and a shortened schedule. The orchestra’s season-opener at the Kentucky Center’s Whitney Hall will be its first since May 14, 2011. A contract dispute between the organization’s leadership and the musicians silenced the orchestra last season, and the two sides now operate under a one-year labor agreement. The 51 orchestra members who have decided to come back this season and the orchestra management will work with an arbitrator while the season progresses. On Saturday, 71 musicians will play on stage, including many the orchestra has hired as extras. They will play a 30-week schedule under the orchestra’s $5.3 million budget. This compares to the nearly $6 million budget of the 2010-11 season and a 37-week schedule. … Orchestra CEO Robert Birman said nearly $316,000 worth of season tickets have been sold and the orchestra would sell prorated subscriptions through September. … Birman added that the organization saw an uptick in contributions after the April announcement of the labor agreement, with donors having pledged $2 million in contributions to the current season. … Outside industry expert Peter Pastreich will examine the organization’s operations and serve as a binding arbitrator on issues that aren’t agreed upon by management and musicians. The goal is to reach a multi-year contract by March 2013.”
Posted September 4, 2012
