Culture in Chile: Chronology of a Crisis

Chiloe Concert Tour

stacecilia — Sun, 09 Sep 2007 17:47:58 +0000

First concert tour by the bronzes of the Filarmonica de Chile to play in the historic churches of the island of Chiloe, in southern Chile. (February 2007)

Street Performance

stacecilia — Sat, 06 Jan 2007 00:37:48 +0000

The Santiago Philharmonic performing the St. Paul Suite Op. 29 #2 by Gustav Holst in Santiago’s Paseo Huerfanos

18 musicians fired

stacecilia — Fri, 06 Oct 2006 15:17:27 +0000

September 29, 2006: The remaining 18 members of the union are notified of their termination of services. The only remaining participants of the collective contract are the union representatives. It would be illegal to fire them! As if that mattered to the administration!

Now all the rumors from as early as 2003 have materialized themselves, the entire union of the Orquesta Filarmónica (now 50 years old) has been fired, attempting to destroy the work of many generations of musicians, and crippling the dreams of the many young musicians who aspire to have a decent , high quality and stable future job.

Performing in the street

stacecilia — Fri, 06 Oct 2006 15:15:27 +0000

Watch this short video of the Santiago Philharmonic musicians playing a traditional “cueca chilena” in a street protest in front of the Teatro Municipal.

17 musicians fired

stacecilia — Thu, 05 Oct 2006 21:55:05 +0000

September 4, 2006: 17 musicians are informed of their termination of services. A concertmaster, various principal and assistant-principal players, energetic string players, and the ENTIRE ARTISTIC COMMISION are effectively fired from their jobs at the Teatro Municipal. Rumors fly about future firings, as the administration hunts down the remaining musicians one by one to resign from the union and collective contract!

Polish replacements brought in

stacecilia — Thu, 05 Oct 2006 21:52:59 +0000

July 2006: The Corporación Cultural de Santiago , Chile , presided by Mayor Raúl Alcaíno has brought in an entire foreign symphony orchestra, from Poland , to replace the house orchestra, the Orquesta Filarmónica de Santiago. This has been done to effectively lock-out the local orchestra and implement strong-arm tactics by the administration. The administration of the Teatro Municipal has threatened to fire everyone belonging to the musicians union, and included in the collective contract. They have presented a new individual contract and rule book that must be accepted or else each musician will be fired.