As government researchers prepare to mount a major review of Australia’s symphony orchestras, many in the industry have begun anew the old debate of whether such massive ensembles are worth the subsidy they require to stay afloat. The Sydney Symphony may have found a way out of the vicious cycle of deficit – through a combination of layoffs, cutbacks, and musician agreements to perform in hospitals, sports arenas, and commercial advertisements – but for many smaller ensembles without the benefit of Sydney’s tourism draw, there seem to be very few answers.