Readers of my blog have noticed my regular reports on the slow liquidation process of the Symphony Orchestra of the Slovak Radio (SOSR). And although I am by nature quite a positive person, ready to take up any challenge, the analysis was quite pessimistic ... unfortunately as I must admit. Nevertheless, the story doesn't end here. Slovakia - as a cultural platform is small, and Bratislava therefore even smaller. The trend of the SOSR is not exclusively confined within its walls - it is equally found in other institutions like the Slovak Philharmonic as well as the National Opera.
Why should we bother? All these institutions are public ones: By law, such institutions are obliged to give public access to their decision-making, their financial health, etc. In reality? As a tax-payer, who is interested in e.g. the sudden sacking of person A or B, I am not able to get in touch with any person of the administration, let alone the management responsible. If all would go smoothly, I would hardly bother... the fact that things are far from smooth, it causes not just simple frowning. And many around me agree. We are not just talking of petty, trivial mishaps; the news that comes out from these institutions from first hand sources (insiders) is indeed very alarming. Neither of the said organisations is being managed with a vision. It's lacking strategy and yet vast streams of money (my tax money!) is thrown into a deep pit.
To a certain degree, I could understand if in emergency cases one hires an befriended colleague - also that this could cause some nasty remarks from other colleagues. Yet if it is shrouded in mystery, and everybody refuses to explain and continuously trespasses laws and regulations - then it is becoming obviously very fishy.
Would the responsible Ministry not intervene in such a situation? Ah yes, it should but it doesn't. Lately a Ministry official stated, that Bratislava's Musica Aeterna baroque ensemble is not to receive money for a project, since the Ministry is "already spending much for early music... " But where then? To the Philharmony. For years we already accept in the West the knowledge that early music is not to be played like a bombastic Richard Wagner performance (no offense to Wagner intended). Yet, the Ministry's point of view is that the Philharmonic should perform Baroque music. Like the Health Ministry will abolish Orthopedic departments and, when breaking a leg, would advise you to visit a Cardiologist who - according to them - is equally qualified to help you.
Not only the Ministry thus proves herewith to have completely incompetent decision makers (not understanding their own field of responsibility, for how credible is one with such a point of view), the incompetence of the managements of the aforementioned institutions - despite of trespassing the national laws by their arrogance of refusing to react to repeated appellations of the public to give account of their behaviour adds up to the growing disbelief on the current developments. How far should this continue? Till all orchestras are completely dissolved and forgotten? The Slovaks, instead of treasuring their talent, turn away. Don't care. The talented ones disappear abroad and what can Slovakia still truly be proud of to show off to the world? Favouritism, mediocrity and ignorance seem to rule.
MS
Why should we bother? All these institutions are public ones: By law, such institutions are obliged to give public access to their decision-making, their financial health, etc. In reality? As a tax-payer, who is interested in e.g. the sudden sacking of person A or B, I am not able to get in touch with any person of the administration, let alone the management responsible. If all would go smoothly, I would hardly bother... the fact that things are far from smooth, it causes not just simple frowning. And many around me agree. We are not just talking of petty, trivial mishaps; the news that comes out from these institutions from first hand sources (insiders) is indeed very alarming. Neither of the said organisations is being managed with a vision. It's lacking strategy and yet vast streams of money (my tax money!) is thrown into a deep pit.
To a certain degree, I could understand if in emergency cases one hires an befriended colleague - also that this could cause some nasty remarks from other colleagues. Yet if it is shrouded in mystery, and everybody refuses to explain and continuously trespasses laws and regulations - then it is becoming obviously very fishy.
Would the responsible Ministry not intervene in such a situation? Ah yes, it should but it doesn't. Lately a Ministry official stated, that Bratislava's Musica Aeterna baroque ensemble is not to receive money for a project, since the Ministry is "already spending much for early music... " But where then? To the Philharmony. For years we already accept in the West the knowledge that early music is not to be played like a bombastic Richard Wagner performance (no offense to Wagner intended). Yet, the Ministry's point of view is that the Philharmonic should perform Baroque music. Like the Health Ministry will abolish Orthopedic departments and, when breaking a leg, would advise you to visit a Cardiologist who - according to them - is equally qualified to help you.
Not only the Ministry thus proves herewith to have completely incompetent decision makers (not understanding their own field of responsibility, for how credible is one with such a point of view), the incompetence of the managements of the aforementioned institutions - despite of trespassing the national laws by their arrogance of refusing to react to repeated appellations of the public to give account of their behaviour adds up to the growing disbelief on the current developments. How far should this continue? Till all orchestras are completely dissolved and forgotten? The Slovaks, instead of treasuring their talent, turn away. Don't care. The talented ones disappear abroad and what can Slovakia still truly be proud of to show off to the world? Favouritism, mediocrity and ignorance seem to rule.
MS
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