In Wednesday’s (6/6) Philadelphia Inquirer, Peter Dobrin writes, “The Philly Pops organization is threatening to sever its relationship with its celebrated pianist and music director, Peter Nero. The Pops two months ago reopened negotiations on Nero’s contract, which runs for two more years. After talks failed to produce an agreement, the Pops’ board voted Tuesday to file for rejection of Nero’s contract in U.S. Bankruptcy Court. ‘We’ve been trying to negotiate his contract since April, to no avail, to renegotiate a lower number,’ said Pops president and chief executive officer Frank Giordano. ‘I can’t pay the Pops’ conductor that kind of money.’ Giordano says he had proposed that Nero take a 40 percent pay cut. Giordano … said that if a pact could not be reached by Friday, lawyers for the Pops would file a motion asking to reject Nero’s contract. A hearing would be scheduled in Bankruptcy Court. The Pops is still in bankruptcy as a result of formerly being part of the Philadelphia Orchestra Association, which filed for Chapter 11 reorganization in April 2011. … Nero said he had retained lawyers to fight the rejection of his contract should a motion be filed. … Nero said he saw the move as a ‘takeover attempt’ of the organization, which he joined in 1979 as founding music director.”
Posted June 7, 2012
