SPCO cancels concerts for 2012

Stuck in a labor dispute, the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra has canceled its concerts through the end of the year. The SPCO locked out its musicians on Oct. 21, and the musicians on Wednesday rejected management's latest offer. Musicians have said they are working on a new proposal.

Author:: BMTN Staff
Publish date:: Nov 2, 2012

Stuck in a labor dispute, the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra has canceled its concerts through the end of the year. The SPCO locked out its musicians on Oct. 21, and the musicians on Wednesday rejected management's latest offer. Musicians have said they are working on a new proposal.

MPR has a the full text of the email from Interim President Dobby West that explains the impasse.

The Pioneer Press sums up the dispute: Management asked for salary cuts and seeks to trim the number of performers after the organization posted a nearly $1 million deficit last year. The musicians say such cuts will tarnish the quality of the orchestra.

Ticket holders can get more information on the SPCO website.

The Star Tribune notes that the canceled dates include: Roberto Abbado conducting Haydn and Stravinsky, Nov. 15-17; Ruggero Allifranchini leading Vivaldi's "Four Seasons" Nov. 23-25 and Bach's Brandenburg Concertos, Dec. 6-9.

In Minneapolis, musicians of the Minnesota Orchestra rallied Thursday at Peavey Plaza, the Star Tribune reports. They have been locked out since Oct. 1, and management canceled concerts through Nov. 25.

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Amid a contract dispute with its musicians, management of the Minnesota Orchestra on Thursday cancelled concerts through Dec. 23, including a number of holiday events: Celtic Woman, Chris Botti Christmas, and A Scandinavian Christmas. Some dates have been rescheduled for the holiday season next year.

The St. Paul Chamber Orchestra and its musicians have been negotiating a new contract without success, and now they are negotiating how to negotiate, MPR reports. The two sides are haggling over whether to continue a "play and talk" approach in which performances would continue as they settle the dispute.

Musicians with the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra said Friday that they will not be voting on management's contract offer by Sunday's deadline, making a lockout almost an inevitability. No further negotiations between the SPCO and its musicians have been scheduled.

The St. Paul Chamber Orchestra told its musicians on Wednesday that it would lock them out at 6 p.m. Sunday if they don't accept management's latest offer, the Star Tribune reports. If a lockout happens, musicians for both Twin Cities orchestras will be locked out for the first time ever. The Minnesota Orchestra in Minneapolis was locked out Oct. 1.

Locked out musicians with the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra were unanimous in their rejection of a four-year contract offer. Musicians say the pay cuts contained in the offer would reduce salaries by one-third, although management says they amount to only 14 percent. Concerts through this weekend have already been cancelled and more cancellations will follow Wednesday's vote.

World renowned violinist and conductor Pinchas Zukerman is stepping up to help out members of the locked out St. Paul Chamber Orchestra. Pinchas Zukerman, who led the SPCO from 1980 to 1987, is returning to the Twin Cities to lead the musicians of the SPCO who have been locked out of salary and benefits since Oct. 22.