It is difficult to imagine a clearer sign that the dysfunction within the Minnesota Orchestra Association’s (MOA) board is far from over and the reported divisiveness, not to mention resulting inaction, over whether or not to retain President and CEO Michael Henson is about as dire of an omen one could imagine at this point.
Simply put, if the MOA were a publicly traded company, we would see finance talking heads like Jim Cramer screaming SELL! SELL! SELL! accompanied by a host of cartoonish sound effects.
But the MOA isn’t a stock, it is a nonprofit performing arts organization so the once firmly united board we saw during the lockout is now apparently averse to making the genuinely tough decisions needed to get the orchestra moving forward.
Failing to remove Henson only promotes continued agitation between the MOA and its musicians, who have publicly called for Henson’s ouster, not to mention alienating organized and vocal patron stakeholder groups. Short of having literally developed the capability to lay golden eggs, whatever value board members see in Henson is certainly counterbalanced by the mountain of disadvantages associated with his continued retention.
According to an article in the 2/28/2014 edition of the Star Tribune by Graydon Royce, the MOA board failed to arrive at any decisions on whether it was in the institution’s best interests to remove Henson and invite Vanska back as music director.
Perhaps the saddest aspect of this is none of it comes as much of a surprise to anyone who has been following this metaphorical opera in one tragic, not to mention excruciatingly long, act.
If nothing else, you can brighten up your day with the latest entry in Nick Canellakis series of videos which features none other than one of the figureheads at the center of the MOA drama, former music director Osmo Vanska. Just in case there’s any confusion; yes, Canellakis’ videos are satirical portraits poking fun at the stereotypical stuffiness of classical music. And in Vanska’s case, it demonstrates that he’s a very good sport.
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I am a bit more optimistic, despite everything. The M.O. chair said the board was in agreement regarding the leadership going forward but wasn’t in a position to announce anything further just yet. This could take several forms, including rehiring Osmo while removing Henson, or kicking Henson upstairs (e.g., “special consultant for corporate fund raising,” or some such). They would actually have to reach agreements with these parties before making such an announcement. Or they could have decided to hire interims for both Osmo and Henson or both, I suppose, but then they would have to find them. But then, of course, one mustn’t underestimate their ability to snatch defeat from the jaws of defeat.
Those are certainly reasonable possibilities and if nothing else, time will tell.
Cellist Canellakis is on the artist roster of Lincoln Center’s Chamber Music Society as is MN Orchestra’s concertmaster Erin Keefe. Hearing them play is a delight.
Fingers crossed.
You may have been thrown off by the bad Star Tribune headline. No decisions were reported, but it appears that a decision or some decisions were made. Expect something in the next couple of weeks.
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