“Artists of the Brazilian Symphonic Orchestra (OAB) and the ballet of the Rio de Janeiro Municipal Theater put on a free performance in the street Tuesday in protest against the non-payment of their salaries and against the crisis driving this Brazilian state into bankruptcy,” reads an unsigned Thursday (5/11) article in the Latin American Herald Tribune (Caracas, Venezuela). “A free concert by one of Brazil’s most prestigious orchestras, together with chorus and ballet presentations, attracted crowds Tuesday morning to Cinelandia, the downtown plaza in Rio de Janeiro in front of the Municipal Theater…. The chorus [sang] the National Anthem, followed by the orchestra playing works by Beethoven, Orff and Bizet. Artists of the Municipal Theater are among the public employees most affected by the crisis that forced the Rio de Janeiro government to declare a state of financial emergency last July…. Those taking part in the street performance asked for donations of non-perishable food items for some of their colleagues who are going through some very hard times…. ‘Some artists haven’t even enough money to come to work. Many are in debt and are asking for loans to buy food,’ said Pedro Olivero, president of the Municipal Theater Employees Union.”
Posted May 11, 2017
