James Zehm writes:

>By the way: they could have been forced to accept female members in their
>function as Orchestra of The Vienna State Opera (for those who might not
>know that: every Philarmoniker is member of the Opera Orchestra - but not
>the other way around.  As "Wiener Philarmoniker" they are "in private" and
>may do as they please.  But government froze fundings unlessthey will
>change their wiew on that old topic.

Touche.  Surely all-male, all-female and all-brass bands are all okay--as
long as they're not subsidized by the government of a society that stands
for equal rights.  The VPO, which is a superb orchestra, is nonetheless a
highly subsidized one-- via the Opernorchster) pool from which it derives.
It is subsidized by a governement that is declaratively equal-rights,
elected by voters who wouldn't have elected it had they demurred.  There
are of course cases which should be seen as being exceptional, such as that
of the Wiener Saengerknaben, who are all male children, yet subsidized.
Here a close look at circumstances should lead to the admission that
what's being subsidized is the performance in chorus of a special kind
of voice--or, if you will, a special kind of human instrument.

Denis Fodor                     Internet:[log in to unmask]