On Monday, before reporting that the SFO management gave notice of its
intention to terminate the orchestra contract that is running through
August 2003, I asked the administration for comment.  There was no
comment, and - with the week now gone - there is still none.

On the other hand, using additional sources, more unofficial but apparently
reliable information came forth from the silent War Memorial, and so the
time has come for a correction.

Here's what happened: the SFO management gave notice of its intention
to terminate the orchestra contract that is running through August 2003.

What kind of a correction is repeating a statement?  Well, it *looks*
the same as the original report, but there is actually subtext, background,
and the examination of animal entrails.

The notice was given, it seems, because the contract requires such action.
No, it doesn't make sense, but there you are.  Further complication:
this formality was always ignored in the past.  So, the Opera administration
gave notice of its intention to terminate the contract as a matter of
following a technicality for the first time.

Was the musicians' union surprised and worried?  You bet.  Is everything
OK now, although management communications stink and the administration's
accumulated budget shortfall will soon to be revealed exceeding $11
million?  ($7.7 in 2001, $4 million-plus in 2002.) No, not really, and
drastic measures are likely to be taken to form a "core orchestra" and
heaven only knows what will befall on the already poorly-treated SFO
Chorus.

Meanwhile, however, here you have the correction, even if unrequested
by the Opera administration, which seems to favor an early Philip Glass
model in its relationship with the press.  Minimalism and ostinato.

Janos Gereben/SF (In Hawaii, to 1/27)
www.sfcv.org
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