Minnesota Orchestra management cancels concerts through Feb. 10; urges talks

Management with the Minnesota Orchestra said Friday that has canceled or rescheduled all of its concerts through Feb. 10, the Pioneer Press reports. But with the cancellation comes an invitation for musician's union to come back to the bargaining table.

In a news release, Minnesota Orchestra Board chair Jon Campbell said, "We all want to resume the concert season as soon as possible" and that the invitation to negotiate "comes without preconditions."

Ticketholders are also now being offered options to exchange tickets or receive a refund.

Management previously canceled all holiday concerts at Orchestra Hall through Dec. 23. The musicians countered by putting on a pair of holiday concerts independently, which were held at Ted Mann Concert Hall at the University of Minnesota last weekend.

The musicians -- who have been locked out since Oct. 1 -- also staged a concert at the Minneapolis Convention Center on Oct. 18 -- which would have been the opening of their 110th season.

Meanwhile, there has been no movement in the lock out of musicians with the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra.

Orchestra management earlier this month cancelled all SPCO concerts through Feb. 8.

Like their Minnesota Orchestra colleagues, the SPCO's musicians have played shows independently, including a sold-out concert at a Wayzata church earlier this month.