Vienna (OTS) – Dear ORF Director General,
Ladies and Gentlemen of the ORF Foundation Board,
Dear Chancellor,
Dear State Secretary,
Dear Members of the National Council of the Republic of Austria,
with great dismay we learn that Orchestra members and employees of the eight Austrian state orchestras, from the austerity plans of the ORF, to which the Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra (RSO) is said to fall victim. We emphatically oppose the planned destruction of the RSO, an ensemble of local, regional and international renown and, last but not least, the artistic home of our colleagues!
The music country of Austria is characterized by a variety of orchestras of different orientations, which ensure the unmistakable Austrian sound in the country and in the world. What a fatal loss the abolition of the RSO would be for our identity and worldwide reputation as a music country is immeasurable. For 50 years, the RSO Vienna has spanned a repertoire from classical to modern masterpieces from Schönberg to Boulez to contemporary music with countless world premieres and first performances. No other Austrian ensemble commits itself to contemporary music with anything remotely comparable expertise and passion, commissions it, plays it constantly and presents it in concerts and guest performances at home and abroad.
The comprehensive perception of these tasks is the defining characteristic of a radio orchestra, of which there is only one in Austria anyway. This is a unique selling point in the Austrian orchestra landscape. Without the RSO, the cultural importance and artistic polyphony of the music scene in Austria will irrevocably suffer serious damage! We urge you, as the person responsible, to prevent this and to take the necessary steps to ensure the continuation and further development of the RSO.
It is our common duty to continue to preserve and promote a diverse landscape of orchestras that, in the highest excellence, are nothing less than identity-forming for our country. The RSO must remain so that Austria can retain its reputation as an exceptional country of music with many voices.
In fraternal solidarity with the ORF Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra:
Bruckner Orchestra Linz
Graz Philharmonic
Carinthian Symphony Orchestra
Mozarteumorchester Salzburg
Vorarlberg Symphony Orchestra
Tyrolean Symphony Orchestra Innsbruck
Tonkunstler Orchestra Lower Austria
Vienna Symphony Orchestra
Questions & contact:
Bruckner Orchestra Linz
Marietta Tsoukalas | tsoukalas@bruckner-orchester.at | +43 732 7611275
Graz Philharmonic
Jörg Rieker | joerg.rieker@oper-graz.com | +43 316 80081216
Carinthian Symphony Orchestra
Carmen Buchacher | c.buchacher@stadttheater-klagenfurt.at | +43 699 12184618
Mozarteumorchester Salzburg
Julian Breyer per@mozarteumorchester.at | +43 662 84357116
Vorarlberg Symphony Orchestra
Barbara Urstadt | barbara.urstadt@sov.at | +43 5574 43447
Tyrolean Symphony Orchestra Innsbruck
Désirée Burtscher | d.burtscher@landestheater | +43 512 52074 364
Tonkunstler Orchestra Lower Austria
Ute van der Sanden | out.the sand@tonkuenstler.at | +43 664 60499752
Vienna Symphony Orchestra
Julia Bruggemann | j.brueggemann@wienersymphoniker.at | +43 664 88426319