Talks continued last week with a federal mediator’s assistance and have been shrouded in secrecy. In the meantime, the musicians have garnered support through daily performances in front of the ISO’s home, the Hilbert Circle Theatre. And Saturday night, they played a free concert under the baton of conductor laureate Raymond Leppard at Second Presbyterian Church. With similar labor-management difficulties affecting many other U.S. symphony orchestras in the recent past, questions about the ISO’s position in Central Indiana can be posed against a national backdrop. … Disillusionment with both sides is a danger whenever there’s a dispute, particularly if a work stoppage is involved. ‘It’s a huge problem when you create a crisis of confidence,’ said Jesse Rosen, executive director of the League of American Orchestras. ‘But moving people back into the fold has definitely happened,’ he added, citing a turnaround at the Buffalo Philharmonic that involved extensive cultivation of former donors, often involving one-on-one meetings.”
Posted September 24, 2012
