Hats off to NPR’s Tom Huizenga for writing such a terrific article for the 9/6/2012 deceptive cadence blog. In particular, Huizenga examines the recently inaugurated hot war between the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra (ASO) and its musicians and the post does one of the best jobs I’ve ever encountered at putting things into perspective.
The passage which leaps off the page sums up the why it is so easy to get sucked into the ugliness that is the emotionally charge rhetoric of PR campaigns (especially the opening salvos).
Let’s forego details on what is, for the moment, essentially a war of words and budget numbers. Instead, let’s focus on what makes the ASO one of this country’s important orchestras, hoping that the dispute will resolve quickly (and fairly).
From there, Huizenga continues by refocusing attention toward what he feels are five of the orchestra’s terrific recordings. It’s a terrific, and subtle, device that reminds those on the outside looking in about one of the primary reasons orchestras exist in the first place.
And if nothing else, the hyperbolic rhetoric from stakeholders currently defining the ASO work stoppage demonstrates that no matter how much folks talk about new models in this business, you can always count on embracing nasty, old school, counterproductive attitudes to prevail when groups are at their worst (such as labor disputes).
In the meantime, I do hope everyone takes the time to enjoy the recordings on Huizenga’s list.
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