Klarinet Archive - Posting 000048.txt from 2011/03

From: =?iso-8859-1?Q?Fernando_Jos=E9_Silveira?= <fernandounirio@-----.com>
Subj: [kl] Brazilian Symphony Polemics
Date: Wed, 09 Mar 2011 20:21:22 -0500

Dear Folks from Klarinet,

I would like to let you know what is happening with our colleagues from
Brazilian Symphony.
I am no longer play on that Orchestra (I play with OSB from 2005 to 2009),
but the situation is so... so ... so sad, that I would like to share with
you.
The letter below is from the Rio de Janeiro`s Union`s President.
For those that have 'facebook', please follow the discussion on my page!

Best,

Fernando
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D
Fernando Jos=E9 Silveira
Rio de Janeiro - Brazil

____________________________________________________________________________
____

Last year, the Brazilian Symphony Orchestra celebrated 70 years of
activities. There were over 100 concerts to an estimated public of 190 000
people, according to the institution itself. Also a significant increase in
the budget of the orchestra was reported, with funds coming from public
policy sponsored by the federal government.

What could indicate a time of reward to the musicians of the orchestra,
which for years received low wages, facing the worst working conditions and
sacrificed much of his personal life in favor of this institution had become
a worldly unprecedented drama. Only two days after the start of their
collective holidays - traditionally in January in Brazil - were surprised by
a statement informing that all OSB musicians would be subject to a
"performance evaluation" provided with no discretion and without any
discussion with the orchestral body or its leaders. Following this
statement, the orchestra management announced that the orchestra would have
their activities suspended until the month of July, and the concerts of the
season in March, April, May and June would be conducted by the Brazilian
Youth Symphony. At the same time they announced competitions for posts to be
held in London, New York and finally in Rio de Janeiro.

It was thus clarified that the project will lead to mass dismissals, leading
to the absurd situation of changing an entire orchestra to meet the demand
of a single person, maestro Roberto Minczuk. For some time the orchestra and
its conductor have not been speaking the same language, especially after the
dismissal of 14 musicians on the eve of Christmas, in 2006, as well as his
attempts to dismiss older musicians and those who opposed his leadership .

At the same time, admonitions are sent by the orchestra management warning
that the absence to procedure will lead to a severe punishment and even the
interruption of the work contract. Despite all this embarrassment, 56 of the
82 musicians who make up the orchestral body, meeting in Assembly decided
not to undertake this "performance evaluation", in protest against
disrespect, arrogance and lack of dialogue that are being submitted.

Thus, we ask your support against this violence which the musicians from the
most traditional orchestra in Brazil are undergoing, preventing that the
most basic human rights - the right to work - is not usurped and that those
responsible for this abnormality are properly accountable.

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