Answers for Orchestras

When orchestra managers have managerial headaches, as they almost constantly do. one source of sympathy--and sometimes relief--is the American Symphony Orchestra League. Last week delegates to the League's annual convention in Chicago were thrashing out new answers to old problems--and sizing up some new questions as well. Items:

>Should symphonies receive a federal subsidy? A surprising 50% of the half of the symphony board directors who responded voted yes as compared with a mere 9% who voted the same way on the same question nine years ago.

>Should orchestras play The Star-Spangled Banner before concerts? Conductors were 70% opposed. Said one:"The melody is from an English drinking song and has no place in a concert."

>Should conductors change orchestras and move around the country? Most were in favor of periodic moves, with one notable dissent: "No, you should move the board of directors."

One closed-session workshop was restricted to the wives of conductors and managers, with no minutes allowed. According to one leak, the qualities voted most desirable in a musical wife were musical background and talent as a hostess. Biggest faults: taking stands on too many issues and bragging about husbands. Warned one conductor's wife, who found herself smiling icily at an antagonistic newspaper critic all through a cocktail party: "You have to be impervious to insult.'1

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