Wednesday (9/5) on the WDRB website (Louisville, Kentucky), David Scott reports, “For the first time since May of last year, the Louisville Orchestra is an orchestra again. Thursday’s rehearsal in Whitney Hall to prepare for Saturday’s season opener, Fanfara, was music to the ears. ‘They sound great, surprisingly good,’ says Orchestra CEO Robert Birman.” After contentious labor negotiations, musicians and management “have agreed to a one-year deal that will, among other things, reduce the number of musicians on the orchestra payroll from 71 to 55. But Birman says audiences won’t notice a difference. ‘Every concert will be a different number, based on the repertoire and the demands,’ Birman says. … A year of performances isn’t the only thing the orchestra has lost. Money raised through donations and tickets sales has also suffered. But the orchestra has launched an aggressive effort to get that funding back. … Also as part of the agreement with musicians, a consultant will review the orchestra’s operations. … But, those are issues to be dealt with in the coming months. For now, both sides just want to focus on the fact the music has returned.”
Posted September 7, 2012
