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Soundcheck / February 28, 2008 / Vienna's Band of Men

Vienna's Band of Men

Thursday, February 28, 2008

After decades of being an all-male bastion, the renowned Vienna Philharmonic made a decision to admit women into its ranks in 1997. Still, it has shown very little change, hiring only six women to date. As the orchestra arrives at Carnegie Hall this week, we’re joined by the Katie Binns, a Vienna-based journalist who recently investigated the orchestra's hiring practices.

The Vienna Philharmonic, through its U.S. spokesperson, offers the following clarification to our segment: "The audition practices used by the Vienna Philharmonic are typical and standard for most orchestras. The statement that the Vienna Philharmonic practice was unique only to them is false."

Regarding funding, the orchestra adds it does not receive a government subsidy but rather "a specific payment each year to cover one special full orchestra concert, chamber music performances, and special activities, all as requested by the government."

Vienna Philharmonic's Web site


Comments

  • [1] Bill O'Riley from UES February 28, 2008 - 01:46PM

    The orchestra is a private enterprise. they should be allowed to hire who they want, when they want. They may be backwards by modern-day standards but it gets results obviously.


  • [2] Marco from Manhattan February 28, 2008 - 02:11PM

    It's not any of our business who gets hired by the Vienna Philharmonic. If you don't like them, don't attend their concerts.
  • [3] Michael from New Jersey February 28, 2008 - 02:19PM

    I'd just like to clarify as a professional violinist myself -- in most American orchestras, the audition process includes a screen for preliminary rounds that is also removed for the final round. One reason for this is to judge whether the player's physical movements will fit with the rest of the orchestra. If a player sounds wonderful but looks distracting, they may not be a good candidate for the orchestra.


  • [4] Ellen Malmon from South Norwalk, CT February 28, 2008 - 02:35PM

    Regarding the problem of perception of women conductor's authority:

    I had the honor and priviledge of singing under Catherine Melhorn who was for 20 years the choral conductor at Mount Holyoke College and who was an extremely powerful and authoritative conductor. Where she led, we followed!

    Some people just have "it."


  • [5] barbara nackman from new york city February 29, 2008 - 01:10PM

    (DON"T print my name/ use Barbara from NYC.

    I have tickets to the orchestra's performance this Saturday as part of a series (Great World Orchestras).

    Now that I am aware of their unfair treatment of women musicians, I am not pleased that I have a ticket. Vienna Philharmonic is clearly one of the world's finest orchestra, but not a sophisticated organization. I don't want to lend my support — or money — to any group that discriminates against people based on gender, race, religion or class. As a working woman I am offended the Vienna Philharmonic considers women musicians and conductors to be a lesser group.

    Thank you NYC for informing your listeners about this issue.

    The orchestra is allowed to do as it pleases. Maybe its administrators feel an audience of all men will hear their sound better? I say let's oblige.
  • [6] William Osborne from Germany March 05, 2008 - 06:09AM

    The statement the VPO sent to WNYC about the funding the orchestra receives from the Austrian government is incorrect and misleading.

    The Vienna Philharmonic recieves a subsidy of 3,700,000 Euros a year from the Austrian Federal Government. (5.18 million dollars.) This is confirmed (in German) on the orchestra's own website. See:

    http://www.wienerphilharmoniker.at/index.php?set_language=de&cccpage=news_detail&set_z_news=163

    It is against European Law for governments to

    fund organizations that discriminate. The Austrian government and the VPO are trying to hide this by claiming the five million dollars is a payment for one orchestra concert, some chamber events, and "special activities."

    Thank you, WNYC, for the interesting report.

    William Osborne


This thread is closed.


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