Are The Fabulous Philadelphians Losing Their Lustre?

It’s not enough that the Philadelphia Orchestra finds itself with staff layoffs and a big deficit and without a permanent music director, CEO or board chairman. Problems over the last few years include nasty contract negotiations in 2004, the messy departure last year of ex-music director Christoph Eschenbach (along with his recording contract), continuing questions about the acoustics at Verizon Hall, the scandalous-to-some absence of the Philadelphians from Gramophone‘s list of the world’s 20 best orchestras, and the sense within the industry of “a current of insularity and privilege among the players.”