#MinnegeddonPartDeux – Now what? (or, the fallout continues)

While OV begins negotiations to return in some capacity to the MO, eight board members of MOA have resigned as a result of the dismissal of Mr. Henson.  While all of this seems quite to be expected, as the chips fall from the prolonged lockout of eighteen months, we are given yet another fascinating glimpse into the innards of this organization.  

Are there underlying reasons for these events?  Are there other shoes to fall, so to speak? Will the ‘rebellion’ staged by the players in refusing to crawl back to MOA after being locked-out and the encouragement of their leader who stood up to MOA on their behalf continue to the point of trying to, in effect, clean house at MOA and, in effect, perhaps even try to take control of the endowment? Or, if they do not get their way, might they even try to form another organization and attempt to have the endowment transferred to them? 

Ironically, it may well have been the legacy of those who are leaving or who have already resigned to have managed, in their own at-times bumbling way, to keep MO from going belly-up during a time of great crisis and transition.  

Certainly, this is an interesting time…

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#MinnegeddonPartDeux — What’s going on at MOA? s d reply…

I don’t live in the world of 200M organizations, but it seems to me that it would be extremely reckless for MOA to embark on a course that involves humiliating its employees and blithely waving goodbye to the conductor who brought them to world-class status, without having a “Plan B” in place prior to the lockout. Surely any of those on the Board who enabled Mr. Henson’s strategies should have realized that he, at the very least, would have to take responsibility for the consequences. My question is, ‘why have they been dragging their heels?” :-0

http://www.artsjournal.com/slippeddisc/2014/02/hensons-neck-is-on-the-minnesota-block-today.html#comment-195703

Slipped Disc reply…what is this year’s top story? #Minnegeddon, of course…

It seems to me that the “Minnegeddon” in Minnesota may have the greatest long-term impact of any story of this year, especially taking into consideration the fact that Mr. Vanska felt he had no choice but to walk away from the MO after having had such a meaningful effect on its stature.

http://www.artsjournal.com/slippeddisc/2013/12/the-years-top-stories-on-slipped-disc.html#comments

 

I wish I could do more…my reply on the departure of Mr. Vanska on the s d blog

Norman,
Perhaps you didn’t read the first sentence of my post, where I stated that I would do my best to summarize the situation from MOA’s point of view, for the sake of discussion. You seem to have interpreted my statements as those of my opinion. That is something entirely different.

If I were to give my opinion, there would be a lot of !%^^*@# in the post. I am devastated by everything that has happened. I am heartbroken at the loss of Mr. Vanska, who was able to give a voice to the MO. I am frustrated and livid at the plight of the players, who have now been left without their leader.

As there is another situation involving the MO that I was involved in, I reached out to both MOA and Mr. Vanska to do what I could to keep this family together, in the far-off chances that what happened to me was in any tangential way connected to this tragic situation. (I put some information in that regards in my blog.)

As I, too, was, in effect ‘locked out’ ,I do not have a voice. Those who could, have chosen not to give me a proper introduction. I hope you can come to understand that I am doing the best I can under the circumstances.

http://www.artsjournal.com/slippeddisc/2013/10/breaking-osmo-vanska-says-i-quit.html#comment-174533

A challenge of defining MOA’s position on this, unfortunately, historic morning…s d reply

Well, let’s try…(this is observation, not my opinion)

When Mr. Vanska was hired in 2003 it was to take the MO to the next level as a top US orchestra with international status. At about that time the MOA also began borrowing money to make this vision happen. Although the MO received some stellar reviews, and played like champs, this was not enough to hold the attention of donors with money, so there were ongoing losses that threatened to drain the endowment.

With the rebuilding of the Hall, the MOA realized that this might be their one chance to put the MO back into a fiscally sound position. They probably hoped that the status and recognition already earned by the MO under Mr. Vanska would hold while they trimmed and streamlined everything to make a financially viable model for the long-term future. Having discovered how expensive having a world-class orchestra can be, they decided to err on the side of caution. They hoped everyone would support their new paradigm.

The players, however, believed their own press more than the MOA, and now, since they were ‘elite’, chose to hold their ground. They then did something, however, that was reminiscent of Diana’s attacks on the monarchy — they demanded full financial disclosure and moved toward demonizing the board, perhaps in hopes that the public would help them. This backfired, however, and MOA only fought back with additional ferocity. When would the players acknowledge the financial crisis the MO is in? When will they live in the real world?

http://www.artsjournal.com/slippeddisc/2013/10/breaking-osmo-vanska-says-i-quit.html

 

The utter frustration of the MOA/MO endgame…s d reply…

With all due respect for Mayor Rybak, who has, until now, appeared to be a staunch champion of the MO players, why does his statement seem to generate an eery analogy to Pilate washing his hands?

Why isn’t he in there with them? :-0

http://www.artsjournal.com/slippeddisc/2013/09/minnesota-is-disgusted-and-desperate-about-its-orchestra.html#comment-172959

Only one miracle? s d reply…

With all due respect, Mr. Vanska has been able to take a group of players who could play at times very well and at others exhibit excruciating musical gaffs and train them to eliminate virtually all their bad habits. Based on the dramatic improvement of quality in the MO during his tenure, it seems there is nothing he can’t accomplish.

Of course, he would have to still be there to do this…:-0

http://www.artsjournal.com/slippeddisc/2013/09/minnesota-board-osmo-can-go.html?replytocom=172834#respond

Are the MO players bullies or victims?

The heavy guns have come out on both sides of the Minnesota Orchestra lockout.  Today is even the day esteemed music director Osmo Vanska originally said he would resign if the lockout had not come to an end.  That date has slid, however; now the working date seems to be September 15th.  

On the one hand, the MOA seems to have circled the wagons and hunkered down, whereas the at times rabid fans of the players have carried their campaign to the next level — of starting additional groups with the intent of breaking the back of the MOA through public opinion (or at least the opinion of those protesting).  Some are even demanding that Gov. Dayton and the state of Minnesota take over the orchestra.  Here is one…

http://www.tcdailyplanet.net/news/2013/09/08/lockout-has-hurt-community-orchestra-patrons-say

False equivalence or false reality? :-0 s d reply…

At the same time, an underlying issue here seems to be that both parties have (or are putting forth) a different reality. The MOA seems to be saying ‘there is no money’ and the players ‘there must be money for us.’

http://www.artsjournal.com/slippeddisc/2013/08/its-up-to-osmo-minnesota-throws-hardball-to-maestro.html

Why on earth would MOA take aim at MO revered conductor, Mr. Vanska? sd reply…

Are you by any chance implying Mr. Vanska is perceived by MOA as being just a little too chummy with the MO players? He even let one premiere his piece on the I35W bridge collapse:
https://www.facebook.com/events/200613550732/

Hope not. :-0

http://www.artsjournal.com/slippeddisc/2013/09/minnesota-board-osmo-can-go.html#comment-172431