Deja Vu All Over Again For Atlanta Symphony

As recently reported, the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra is locked out by management, again. Hasn't this just happened not too long ago?  It turns out that in 2012 when the orchestra was locked out, the negotiators reached an agreement before opening night of the new concert season. This time they weren't so lucky. It looks like the orchestra members will be on the picket line for more than the three weeks back a couple of years ago.  Not an auspicious start to their 70th season. They gave in to management demands then, taking pay cuts, reducing the size of the orchestra, and shortening the length of the season. This time, apparently health insurance costs are the central issue. It's all part of a familiar story by now, perhaps a generally declining economy if you look at it with the "canary in the coalmine" analogy in mind. Since this all seems to be about money, what types of organizations are most vulnerable when the bottom line becomes the only line?   It would be one thing if this were some poorly-run inept arts group, but the Atlanta Symphony is a really fine orchestra with a solid reputation thanks to its visionary conductor Robert Shaw, who was the music director from 1967 to 1988. In addition to all those fine Telarc recordings the Atlanta Symphony made with Shaw, the more recent ones with Yoel Levi, and Robert Spano seem to confirm that the orchestra's artistic level remains pretty substantial. I know all the causes and conditions leading to the current situation are complex and involve many aspects of our changing culture. I don't mean to demonize anyone in particular, but I do hope the orchestra members don't have to be on the picket lines too long, so they can get back to doing what they do best, making great music that entertains, inspires, and lifts our spirits. As Robert Shaw said: "art is not the privilege of a few, but the necessity of us all." http://youtu.be/JtWkNxn3duA