A dark cloud continues to loom over the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra.
This week was supposed to mark its 70th season, but musicians have been locked out since Sept. 7, and conductor Robert Spano has spoken out.
For the orchestra, their problems seem to be deep-seated, potentially, according to NPR, stemming from problems back in 1962, when more than 100 of Atlanta's leading arts patrons embarked on a tour of Europe who, sadly, did not return home.
Then-Mayor Ivan Allen Jr. acknowledged that the city's eldest arts financers had perished on the plane in Paris.
Another theory, which has been purported by fundraising consultant Linda McNay, is that the orchestra has not received adequate support from local and state governments that support the arts.
Regardless of what you may believe, conductor, composer and pianist Robert Spano has spoken out in a release about the orchestra:
"The excellence that defines the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra is rich with tradition: the profound legacy of Robert Shaw; a celebrated recording history, including 27 Grammy Awards; a historical and an ongoing commitment to new and American music; path-breaking theatrical presentations; The Atlanta Symphony Youth Orchestra and Talent Development Program, whose alumni are testament to their importance; and standard setting performances of the choral-orchestral repertoire with the legendary Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Chorus.
"If this dynamic, cultural institution is lost, it will be a blow to the musical life of our country and to music lovers everywhere. More importantly, for Atlantans, it will be a tragic loss for our city."
He continued by calling on fellow Atlantans:
"As Atlantans, we must rise to the challenge of supporting and sustaining this treasure at the level of excellence we have known and are deservedly proud. The erosion of cultural life is a sure sign of the decay of civilization, but crisis can lead to opportunity, and ours is now. We can be the 'shining city on a hill.'"
The future might be bleak for the ASO, but with impassioned words from the orchestra's conductor, perhaps patrons can rally behind the organization and find a way to keep it afloat.
The loss of such a cultural institution will be a blow to the city's foundation.
For now, keep up with the theme to Jaws, as performed by the ASO:
