The Berliner Philharmoniker heard with great astonishment that the ORF Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra had again been reflexively put on hold in connection with the austerity plans for the ORF. The reason given is the savings targets that the ORF has to meet.
How can this be? Why is a public institution with a comprehensive social mandate, which expressly also refers to culture, forced by politics to spin off or even abolish an orchestra that is trying to implement the broadcasting mandate in an exemplary way?
Andrea Zietzschmann, Artistic Director of the Berliner Philharmoniker Foundation: »Since it was founded in 1969, the ORF Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra has earned an excellent reputation in the national and international music scene and is a great advertising medium for the ORF and Austria. As an opera orchestra, the RSO is the backbone of the Theater an der Wien, it has its own series of concerts in the Vienna Konzerthaus and in the Vienna Musikverein and also makes a significant contribution to the radio program of Ö1. It thus plays a key role in Austrian musical life and at the same time carries the ORF name around the world. What other orchestra can boast this diversity?”
Eva-Maria Tomasi and Stefan Dohr from the orchestra board of the Berlin Philharmonic: »The RSO Vienna is known worldwide for its commitment and competence, especially in contemporary music. Saving the orchestra would lead to a great cultural loss in this area, which is in no way offset by the relatively small volume of savings. We therefore urge everyone who is entrusted with this decision to reconsider your plans, also with conviction for the entire ORF and its cultural mission!«
For the chief conductor of the Berlin Philharmonic, Kirill Petrenko, this orchestra, like for many other Austrian conductors and composers, was an important stepping stone for the career: »The Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra is an integral part of Viennese and Austrian cultural life. My professional career began with a concert with the RSO. Losing this orchestra would be irreversible damage to Austria as a land of music.«
The RSO has started a petition promoting continued funding:
