Accusations Of Racist And Sexist Hiring Practices At The Vienna Philharmonic
The Vienna Philharmonic is one of the world's greatest orchestras, rich in tradition and world famous. But in recent years, the storied orchestra has come under fire in some quarters for its failure to hire women and non-whites. Yes, until recently, it has been an all male organization and almost all of its members have been native Austrians and Viennese trained.
Virtually all the members have been pupils of former members, and positions in the orchestra have often been handed down from fathers to sons. It's almost like the ancient medieval Guild system of masters and apprentices. Women have traditionally been excluded, as well as non-whites.
The Philharmonic consists of members of the Vienna State Opera orchestra who play periodic subscription concerts in the great Musikverein concert hall of Vienna. Most of their time is spent playing operas. All the members of the Philharmonic are members of the opera orchestra, but non all members of the opera orchestra are members of the Philharmonic. Both organizations share a large pool of musicians ; when the Philharmonic is playing a subscription concert or on tour, there are enough musicians for the opera.
Musicians of the opera orchestra must audition to be Philharmonic members, and then undergo a period of probation before becoming full members. But there has been widespread criticism of the orchestra for excluding women etc. So the orchestra has finally accepted a few women as string players. Women harpists have already been used.
Auditions are behind a screen as in the US . Recently a Japanese tuba player won an audition, but was not retained, because the orchestra wants to maintain its reputation as a genuinely Austrian organization. It has been reluctant to hire women because it claims that they often take too much time off for maternity leave.
The American composer and commentator William Osborne and his wife the trombonist Abby Conant organized a campaign several years ago to criticize the orchestra and attempt to force it fairer hiring practices. They have an interesting website 0sborn-Conant.org, which covers the Philharmonic and discusses sexism in classical music, even if in an excessively P.C. manner.
Abby Conant is an outstanding American trombonist and teacher who ran into difficulties back in the 80s when she was hired as principal trombonist of the Munich Philharmonic after auditions behind a screen. The late and eccentric Romanian conductor Sergiu Celibidache, who was music director at the time is said to have expressed a desire for a male trombonist, and Ms Conant was allegedly subject to sexual harassment and not retained. She later brough a lawsuit against the orchestra in which she had to provide evidence of her superior abilities on the trombone. She currently teaches trombone at prestigious European music schools.
The Vienna Philharmonic wants to preserve is traditional Viennese sound ; woodwind and brass musicians use special Viennese instruments which are not used outside of Austria. The traditional Viennese horn has a valve system that is completely different from other makes of horn. It is very difficult to play but sounds gorgeous in the hands of a master.
I'm familiar with the playing of this great orchestra from countless recordings and radio and television broadcasts. I've even heard them play in Carnegie hall, and they sound incredible; absolutely intoxicating . The audience cheers were so loud I had to cover my ears ! I can forgive the orchestra.