Oh Canada!

Let me introduce myself: my name is Brian Robinson and I am the Principal Bass and Players Committee Chairman of l’orchestre symphonique de Montreal. I have been a member of the orchestra for 24 years.
A simple way to sum up our orchestra is the old saying: “never a dull moment”! This orchestra has experienced alternating ‘highs’ and ‘lows’ over the years that sometimes leave us shaking our heads!
Right now we are (we hope!) heading into one of our ‘high’ periods following the lowest – the 5 month strike of 2005. What I find amazing is the fact that we are still on our feet after such an acrimonious labour dispute, which in itself followed an equally acrimonious departure of our long time Music Director, Charles Dutoit. Perhaps the Quebec ‘tradition’ of labour unrest kept the public on our side!
Here is where we stand, one year after the end of the strike.
1. A new Music Director is in place — Kent Nagano. Nagano is an ‘American in Paris’! His home base is there and much of his career has been in Europe. He is solidly in the upper echelon of international conductors and he was truly the #1 choice to replace Dutoit. His other position, Music Director of the Bavarian State Opera in Munich, is one of the most prestigious in the world. So far our relationship has been all positive, with both the musicians and the public. Montreal loves a ‘star’ and Nagano fills that bill. On the job he is the antithesis of Dutoit; courteous, open, respectful. His concerts are musically stimulating and the hall is full!
2. The orchestra is essentially intact, despite our problems. We have a number of positions to fill, primarily in the strings, but those are mostly as a result of being without a Music Director for 4 years. The principal solo positions of the orchestra have stayed put since the departure of Dutoit.
3. The Board of Directors has also remained essentially intact. An orchestra with our recent history might normally see its directors fleeing like mice from a sinking ship. The opposite has happened; some important local business people with strong fund raising credentials have been brought on board.
4. As with most Canadian orchestras, we still function in a hand-to-mouth fashion financially. We receive very generous funding from the provincial government, but our high rates of personal and business taxation make it difficult to fundraise compared to the US. Businesses and private individuals feel that they ‘contribute’ to the Arts through their taxes.
5. Our public has remained faithful. We play in an over-sized, all-purpose hall that does not reward the listener. Despite that, they have, for the most part, stuck with us. They are truly proud of the orchestra and the reputation that it has acquired internationally. The arrival of Nagano has confirmed for them that we will continue our international presence.
6. There remain some deep wounds in the relationship between the musicians and the administration, following the strike. Both sides were affected deeply by statements made during the dispute and they are wary of each other. On the positive side, we have embarked on a program of ‘Mediation Preventive.’ This is a government sponsored program that provides a mediator to meet with both sides to try to find long-term solutions to chronic labour problems in an organization.
7. Musically, this orchestra is truly a jewel! The pride which it takes in its level of play is incredible, and even after 24 years I am knocked out by the degree to which this ensemble is a ‘money player.’ The greater the occasion (or pressure!) the better it performs!
That about sums it up. Please feel free to provide any feedback, or questions.
From the moderator: You can read an interview that Robert Levine held with Brian Robinson in our Montreal Symphony Spotlight feature.