Comments on: Viennese bias?

Viennese bias?

111 — Fri, 17 Jan 2003 21:07:19 -0800

Ursula Plaichinger, a 27 year-old viola player, is the first woman to be (partially) admitted into the Vienna Philharmonic since the orchestra's creation 161 years ago. Except for hiring temporary, underpaid, unmentioned and unseen harpists ("Cameramen were instructed to show only her hands, never her face or figure"), the Viennese Phil not only tried to ignore several pleads for gender equality but took seven years to comply to the Austrian government's injunctions. Does this kind of resistance reflect a general trend? Is Ursula's case merely an example of "Rent-a-Frau" ? On the other hand, since the Viennese orchestra is a private association, could this be just a modified version of the Battle of Augusta?

By: jonson

jonson — Fri, 17 Jan 2003 22:07:50 -0800

These women won't stop until we have a gender integrated Vienna Boy's Choir!!

By: geekhorde

geekhorde — Sat, 18 Jan 2003 00:27:32 -0800

Would that really be so bad? Won't somebody please think of the children?

By: lazaruslong

lazaruslong — Sat, 18 Jan 2003 00:41:49 -0800

No....but I will think of the women. Mmmmm....women.

By: newlydead

newlydead — Sat, 18 Jan 2003 06:50:00 -0800

Kinda puts a whole new twist on the Sound of Music [scroll down to story]. Julie Andrews, we need more subversives like you.

By: newlydead

newlydead — Sat, 18 Jan 2003 06:52:24 -0800

Oops! Sound of Music link above is 404'd. Will try to correct.

By: newlydead

newlydead — Sat, 18 Jan 2003 06:59:19 -0800

Corrected SoM link [scroll down to story].

By: madamjujujive

madamjujujive — Sat, 18 Jan 2003 07:08:08 -0800

Wow, this story makes me mad. Most of the reports would have you believe that she has been admitted to the orchestra, but by tenure requirements, she is really only on a waiting list for 2004 and will be competing against 15 men to be voted in by -guess whom? The all male anti-women Philharmonic! It's a good example of why you need to read beyond the headlines and not take news at face value or from one source. Music, Sexism and war is another interesting essay on the topic that poses the question "Why do we forget that women's rights and human rights are inseparably intertwined?"

By: Ljubljana

Ljubljana — Sat, 18 Jan 2003 07:48:28 -0800

Taking on the Vienna Philharmonic includes an interesting audio quiz where you have to guess if a man or woman is playing. I scored a dismal 3 out of 5.

By: condour75

condour75 — Sat, 18 Jan 2003 08:52:59 -0800

And then there's the Eroica Trio.

By: straight

straight — Sat, 18 Jan 2003 10:03:46 -0800

If the Vienna Philharmonic wants to cripple itself by cutting in half the pool of excellent musicians from which they can draw, then it's their loss. Who cares? I wouldn't buy any of their overpriced recordings anyway. Give me a formerly-starving from Eastern Europe on the Naxos label any day. (the link-making applets don't seem to work in K-Meleon, and I'm too lazy to do it manually)

By: Vidiot

Vidiot — Sat, 18 Jan 2003 11:45:26 -0800

sure you didn't misspell that name, condour75?

By: mmascolino

mmascolino — Sun, 19 Jan 2003 17:53:00 -0800

I don't know the Eroica Trio, but I am partial to Lara St. John.