In effect, this confirms that the Vienna Philharmonic has reneged on its
agreement to admit women into the orchestra. It has been three years
since they agreed to admit women, but none have been employed--excepting
women harpists which they have always used. They are now openly rejecting
subvention from the government connected to the employment of women.
The Vienna State Opera Orchestra/Vienna Philharmonic also receives special
pensions which are more lucrative than the normal governmental pensions in
Austria. The government has now changed this policy. All new members of
the Opera Orchestra/VPO will receive only normal pensions. The orchestra
Chairman, Clemens Hellsberg, has said this will create a "two class system"
within the orchestra: the older members with special pensions, and the
younger members with normal pensions. Apparently it does not concern him
that the discrimination against women is a much more egregious two class
system.
Further meetings are scheduled. A more complete update will be in the next
issue of the IAWM Journal, but I wanted to add this latest news. Thanks to
Regina Himmelbauer for her assistance.
William Osborne
[1] "Kein Okay der Philharmoniker zu Wittmanns Angebot", _Der Standard_
(August 4, 1999).
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