Patience Is Gone Too

The San Diego Symphony Orchestra is an enigma wrapped inside a tragedy.

Even before the symphony board voted last week to disband the orchestra, there were those in the community who thought the organization should be given a proper burial. Two decades of bad management leading to desperate appeals for funds followed by failure to appreciate donors had sapped the public’s good will for the symphony. More than a few have been heard to utter “good riddance” in the past week.

For the sake of the music that has thrilled many and enriched the city’s burgeoning cultural life, we have refused to join that chorus. Alas, the situation seems hopeless now.

Particularly frustrating about the symphony’s apparent demise is that it comes, not despite the best efforts of all involved, but rather at a time when musicians and management are fighting each other.

It was understandable last year that the symphony and the musicians were having trouble coming to terms on a new contract. After all, the players had forgone much in the way of pay over the years while at the same time working hard to lift the quality of their music, and they felt it was time to be fairly compensated. The management and board, on the other hand, were faced with economic realities that made an enhanced contract with the musicians out of the question. It was easy to sympathize with both sides.

In recent weeks, however, neither the board nor the players have proved to be worthy of much understanding or sympathy. First, the board has continued to insist on significant artistic changes in the musicians’ contract at the same time that it sought financial concessions. It was a hardball approach that was insensitive to the many sacrifices the musicians have been called upon to make.

But the musicians have not covered themselves with glory either. Although it may have come too late anyway, Mayor Maureen O’Connor made a welcome effort to bring the combatants back to the bargaining table by proposing binding arbitration with former UC San Diego Chancellor William J. McGill as chief arbitrator. The symphony board agreed. But based on instructions from their national union and on a logic that goes about as deep as “we’ve never done it that way before,” the musicians decided not to go to arbitration.

It’s hard to envision this situation ending happily. Even if by some miracle the two sides did return to bargaining and did reach an agreement, it is far from certain that the community--especially the large corporate donors--would come forth with the necessary financial support to give the symphony yet another chance. Perhaps most disappointing is that the musicians, board, management and Music Director David Atherton--all of whom at one time collaborated to bring beautiful music to San Diego--would end it on such a sour note.