Posted by UMBRAGE on June 29, 2003 at 21:02:36:
In Reply to: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Article on new tubist in Vienna posted by B. Guerrero on June 29, 2003 at 19:36:47:
The VPO also had a long-running, if somewhat apologetic relationship with Leonard Bernstein after he left the NY Phil. According to Bernstein's biographer, this was a bit uneasy because of the fact that Bernstein was Jewish, and because of the background of the VPO.
However, this is 20 years or more later, and the Vienna Philharmonic has still clung to its largely xenophobic and misogonist ways. I applaud the fact that a woman has been appointed as harpist, and an asian has been named as tubaist. I also think that these two people must be absolutely top-notch musicians to have overcome the prejudice built into the VPO. I also remind the group that the VPO made life miserable for a female trombonist it had once appointed. This is a step in the right direction, but I hope it is more than just "window dressing."