Sponsorship of Program in Question : Pops Now a Sticking Point in Symphony Talks

Yet another sticking point has emerged in the negotiations between the San Diego Symphony Assn. and orchestra musicians.

Sources close to the talks revealed last week that the two groups had reached tentative agreement on a contract that would include sponsorship of a Summer Pops program this year. But now, sources say, the symphony has informed musicians that management’s deadline for sponsorship of the Pops--which the association has said will cost $2 million--passed April 3.

The symphony is now working with the musicians to have them find a sponsor for the Pops, the sources say, with both the acknowledgment and the support of symphony management. The musicians continue to insist, however, that management sponsor the Pops--provided it can find the funding.

Considerations in Limbo

Symphony and musicians’ sources, citing the delicacy of this stage of negotiations, refused to be quoted for attribution. They were willing, however, to paint a picture of those negotiations that shows that several major considerations are still in limbo:

- Funding. Funding remains problematic because the tentative agreement--which musicians’ sources said the players would ratify--covers not only the Pops but also the entire 1987-88 and 1988-89 seasons. Where the money would come from remains in question.

- The power of a commission proposed by Mayor Maureen O’Connor and headed by William McGill, former president of Columbia University and former chancellor of UC San Diego. McGill has been out of town and unavailable for comment.

- The role of the symphony board and board President Herbert J. Solomon. Both have been targets of criticism. Sources close to the musicians say that they are not averse to working out their differences with current management, provided that change of some kind is made. One source said that improvement is needed in “structure, leadership, operation and attitude.” The musicians insist, however, that they will sign the tentative agreement with the current symphony leaders if these differences are worked out.

Sources said this week that Solomon has been absent from the latest round of talks; Executive Director Wesley O. Brustad has been representing the association. Brustad declined to comment Friday. Solomon referred all calls to marketing director Melissa Smith, who said she had “nothing to say.”

‘No Announcement’

Paul Downey, press secretary for O’Connor, had this to say: “There’s nothing new to report, no imminent announcements. As far as this office is concerned, there is no agreement. There is no announcement. Nothing has been signed.”

Downey, however, reiterated that the mayor’s position is that McGill should be given the power to direct the symphony’s course under the heading of a “blue ribbon” commission.

“She believes,” Downey said, “that McGill needs to have the proper authority to look at all aspects of the orchestra’s situation. Hopefully, he and his group would come up with good solutions, ones that everyone can live with.

“At this point, McGill is acting entirely on his own; this commission everyone talks about has not been appointed, though we would like it to be, and soon.”

Although the symphony needs money to pay for the proposed contract, sources close to the negotiations on both sides say a skeptical public is not likely to give freely until the commission has been appointed with McGill in charge and the commission is given a full mandate--including the power to hire and fire and to chart a course for the future.

‘Gag Order’ on Negotiators

Several sources said that McGill had instituted a “gag order” asking that no one involved in the symphony imbroglio or in the contract talks speak to the press.

Downey confirmed that a proposal earmarked for sponsorship of the Pops has been forwarded to the city manager. Other sources said that the proposal calls for the lease of the Pops site--at Hospitality Point on Mission Bay--to be transferred temporarily from the symphony association to orchestra musicians, with the latter group, or someone it hires, handling both production and management.

The musicians, however, continue to hope for a contract and a resumption of normal procedure, wherein the symphony association would sponsor the Pops concerts, which ordinarily begin in June.