Minnesota Orchestra Reaches a Pivotal Weekend

In Minneapolis, the Minneapolis Orchestra is reaching a breaking point, and it only seems to be getting worse. A year ago, the orchestra was locked out by management after failure to be able to reach negotiations for their contract, according to NPR. The lockout still has not been resolved, causing the summer season to be cancelled, and, if compromises are not made soon, the loss of their conductor, Osmo Vänskä.

Not only is the orchestra upset, music lovers in the city are also beginning to feel frustrated. According to the Minnesota Post, people are questioning whether this lockout would still be happening had it be a sports team that had been "locked out", essentially asking of politicians are more hesitent to get involved with the dispute as it isn't as popular as sports, pointing out that when the Vikings threatened to leave, politicians supported getting what they needed built as to not lose that revenue.

However, politicians have, in fact, been involved. Senators that have helped countries regain peace, as well as senators who have helped other orchestras settle have been brought in. But still, no side wants to budge. A settlement offer was proposed, but recieved lack of support from the orchestra members.

Musicians from the orchestra have already begun to leave, and if Osmo Vänskä leaves, the orchestra's event at Carnegie Hall, and the orchestra will have less and less to stand on.