To Orchestra or Not to Orchestra....

Slovakia, a small nation at the very heart of Europe, with a uniquely rich cultural heritance. From such a blessed tradition should normally follow, that it naturally reflects on a rich cultural activity – like on the concert stages. For some time, I am closely following developments of the Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra. In fact it's the oldest professional orchestra in Slovakia (even older than the Slovak Philharmonic) and instead of enthusiastically looking forward to another jubileum, the orchestra is in deep distress, or to put it more precisely: it’s falling apart.

It is not uncommon for orchestras and ensembles to get into a period of turmoil, and in most cases a conductor leaves, a manager resigns and the band will continue to play under a different maestro. Remember for instance, how the supposedly life-long marriage of the Berlin Phil with von Karajan got into trouble and von Karajan left? But this time it looks as if the manager and conductor will remain in the office of the Slovak State Radio,... without an orchestra.

Most disturbing in this case, is the autocratic arrogance of both (too) young conductor and the general director, who, like a couple of elephants in a porcelain cabinet, are behaving as if the era of totalitarian rule has fully returned.

It started, when a couple of years ago some plans arose, in order to improve the orchestra's quality, there would be some changes. To make it more concrete; Because of budgetary constraints trimming the orchestra and have everyone audition and a bonus of cutting the musicians‘ wages. Improving the orchestra's quality is definitively a good idea. Having seen the orchestra at rehearsals and concerts, the specific position of being the (only) band of the broadcasting corporation, definitively deserves a better quality – at least to match a level of other European orchestras (in case you’re not too familiar with European geography – within a few minutes car-drive, you are in Vienna). My judgement on this orchestra would be, that the least prominent provincial orchestra in the Netherlands would still outrank this one, though there is potential. Budgetary constraints can look a serious issue indeed, but I have grave doubts, whether this is indeed a genuine excuse.

The chef conductor, then, Oliver Dohnanyi – who first of all demanded excruciating fees (at least for Slovak standards, was in a way the author of this concept. Oddly enough, after slamming this into the face of the musicians, who were in such a shock and distress that obviously the morale was at Siberian low. Apparently even causing, sadly enough, one viola player a heart attack from the stress. Yes, and Maestro Donhnanyi in the meantime leaving to be the new chef of the State Opera (professionally speaking, this is not giving a right signal during a transition-stage, and therefore is a very unfortunate move), leaving the orchestra in the hands of his young assistant Mario Košík, a young lad, who came through the back door, without formal auditions, who has a disputable reputation, and as it shows, no leadership.

Ever since, the gap between orchestra and management has widened (a mild understatement), due to meetings where promises turned out just empty phrases, without consultation with orchestra members (or at least some representatives from the orchestra) salary issues were pushed through – an interesting detail is, that some orchestra members have managed to approach the Ministry of Culture to get some extra funding. Yet management, after having received a juicy sum on their bankaccount, decided to use this money for other purposes than for which it was intended in the first place. In every sense of modern ethical management, where it is the role of this management to address market trends (in other words: make the orchestra economically go forward) as well as keeping internal working harmony, this was the complete opposite.

What puzzles me a bit, is the fact that during meetings, musicians (true is, several are from the communist era, where you had to keep your mouth shut if you wanted to remain playing in an orchestra – at that time a priviledged position) are not always articulating their exact views. Rumour has it, that the general director even removed the players’ bulleting board, naively hoping that players would not pin critical articles or comments there anylonger. Censorship pur sang. But very unprofessional and even up to brink of childish). It seems, they forgot to realise, that outside discussion forums exist, and even the official Slovak Music Centre moderated such a discussion, where clearly ‘insiders’ (musicians) aired and shared their views and info. Though very emotional at some times (as most forum-discussions tend to become) when taking an objective distance, you can deduce a lot from them.

The reader would not need too much phantasy to imagine that this situation is very explosive. The orchestra of Columbus Ohio is enjoying for quite some time international attention from journalists, critics, or adaptistration experts, after rigorous plans have been thrown at them.

But Bratislava is less important perhaps. “We are a small country” you would hear often as a standard alibi. As an art management consultant, you tend to look a bit further though. There are still smaller nations (doing well); Slovakia’s economic growth in the last years is one of the highest in Europe; comparing statistics – GDPs, PPSs, % of people employed in performing arts. Nothing that could substantiate this almost fatalistic defeatist sentiment. What on earth is wrong with you?! One fact is true: it’s small in the sense, that everyone knows everybody in the field – keeping the ranks tightly closed.

It’s definitively a question of attitude. But to conclude: a change to improve is a very legitimate action plan. The way it has been miscarried out is very dubious and regrettable, and could have been avoided by simply applying some decency and common sense. The greatest shame is, that so much money, talent and energy is wasted. The scary part of it is, that it somehow is veiled in some kind of an officially embargoed mystery. It goes on, unpunished. You might slowly get the impression that there is indeed a hidden purpose, since it smells slightly fishy…….

MS