San Antonio Symphony News and Archive

Symphony opens season in new health




From the San Antonio Express News 9/5/99

By Mike Greenberg



The good news for the San Antonio Symphony over the summer has been no news.

No recriminations. No politely nasty exchanges between labor lawyers. One could actually walk down Houston Street in front of the Majestic Theatre without wading knee-deep in red ink.

A year ago, the symphony had $1.7 million in debt and about enough cash for bus fare to the poor farm. The symphony board demanded steep pay cuts from the musicians, who refused to budge. The first three weeks of the season were canceled and the office staff was let go.

At last, in late September, the musicians and board reached an agreement that released a five-year, $5 million stabilization package offered by the Kronkosky Charitable Foundation and a group of local businesses.

The symphony's road since then has been, if not paved with gold, at least passable. Its debt is way down, it met the first-year matching requirements for the stabilization program and it began rebuilding both its endowment and its fiscal credibility.

The old board of directors, a large group with limited financial clout, was replaced by a new, smaller board representing major businesses, the Kronkosky foundation and the musicians. The board found a highly promising executive director, John Binkley, to replace David Schillhammer, who resigned in December.

Barring unforeseen calamity, the symphony will return to the Majestic stage this Thursday and Saturday at 8 p.m. to open its 60th anniversary season with violins and horns rather than wailing and gnashing of teeth.

The program, conducted by music director Christopher Wilkins, holds Ralph Vaughan Williams' "Serenade to Music," Richard Strauss' "Don Juan," Ottorino Respighi's "The Fountains of Rome" and P.I. Tchaikovsky's "Romeo and Juliet."

(Yes, I know, last season was touted as the 60th anniversary - a year early. I believe last year's travail was punishment heaped on the symphony by the offended muse of arithmetic.)

The symphony has suffered heavy human losses in the past year. Mark Horner, the superb principal trombonist, was shot to death last December, at age 25. Ted Allred, a violist with the orchestra and a top-drawer chamber musician, died in an auto accident over the summer.

Other musicians left for greener pastures - most notably the brilliant principal clarinetist, Paul Cigan. Violinist Eric Brahinsky decided to hang up his bow and pursue mathematics. Resident conductor David Mairs, cut to part time last season, has left town.

And Wilkins announced over the summer that he would serve just two more seasons as music director, bringing him to an even 10 at the helm, plus one season in the reduced role of music adviser.

All in all, the symphony begins its new season in stable condition financially and, if the recent past is a reliable guide, in excellent artistic health.

Some of you may not believe me on the second point. Maybe you'll believe your own ears.

Today at 2 p.m., radio station KPAC (88.3 FM) plans to broadcast a tape of last season's closing concert, Haydn's oratorio "The Creation." Next Sunday at 2 p.m., the program holds Haydn's Symphony No. 95, the Mozart Clarinet Concerto and Dvorak's Symphony No. 8, from concerts of 1997 and 1998.

I previewed those tapes last week, and the results were extraordinary - especially the big brass and woodwinds in the Dvorak. This orchestra can play at a solid 95 percent of the level of the best bands in the country.

Of course, it sounds better live. And how nice that this year you won't have to wear galoshes.



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