Translation by William Osborne.
_Der Standard_ February 11, 1996
PHILHARMONIC MEMBER:
FLUTE TONES FOR WOMEN
Vienna. In a position statement given to the STANDARD, Dieter Flury, a flutist
of the Vienna Philharmonic, has indirectly announced that he will vote for the
acceptance of women at the upcoming general assembly of the orchestra. The
musician, who just returned from Spain, also clarified the position he had given
in a West German State Radio interview (see the weekend edition of the
STANDARD). He ascertained in the interview, so says Flury, "that the Vienna
Philharmonic, in gender as well as geographic origins, is as one sidedly
combined as the group of composers they play. From the standpoint of equal
treatment I labeled this an irritation. With the view to the 150 year history
of the Philharmonic I was prepared to accept this irritation."
[This is] a generosity that Flury, however, is only prepared to summon up for
the past. "In regard to the future, I am convinced that the claim for equality
and equal treatment of all people has a paramount position of value
[ueberragenden Stellenwert], which will also determine my personal voting
behavior [Abstimmungsverhalten]."
End of article.
On February 13, 1996, Mr. Flury made the following statements in a WDR
interview. Mr. Flury was asked about how he would feel concerning the entry of
women into the orchestra:
Flury: "No, truthfully said, I wouldn't be indifferent. I would have an uneasy
feeling in the situation. And that is because we would be gambling with the
emotional unity (emotionelle Geschlossenheit) that this organism currently has.
My worry is that it would be a step that could never be taken back."
The passage below is a translation of the complete statement by Flury, which
_Der Standard_ quoted parts of in the weekend edition:
Flury: "From the beginning we have spoken of the special Viennese
qualities, of the way music is made here. The way we make music here is not
only a technical ability, but also something that has a lot to do with the soul.
The
soul does not let itself be separated from the cultural roots that we have here
in
central Europe. And it also doesn't allow itself to be separated from gender."
"So if one thinks that the world should function by quota regulations, then it
is
naturally irritating that we are a group of white skinned male musicians, that
perform exclusively the music of white skinned male composers. It is a racist
and sexist irritation. I believe one must put it that way. If one establishes
superficial egalitarianism, one will lose something very significant.
Therefore, I
am convinced that it is worth while to accept this racist and sexist irritation,
because something produced by a superficial understanding of human rights
would not have the same standards."
I am happy to hear that a belief in "equality and equal treatment" will
determine Mr. Flury's decision in the February 18th vote which will reduce
women's maternity rights as a condition for allowing them membership in the
Vienna Philharmonic.
William Osborne
100260.243@compuserve.com