The saga of violist and the Vienna Philharmonic began Feb. 27, 1997--the
very day the orchestra announced that it would no longer exclude women.
Rossbacher, the second woman to break the male barrier at the rival
Berlin Philharmonic, had already decided it was time for a change. She had
played there for 10 years and was thinking of embarking on a solo career.
"By chance I saw an interview on television about the VPO's decision," she
recalled Wednesday in an interview from Wiesbaden, Germany, where she'd just
given a concert. "I couldn't believe it. I come from Vienna. I have many
friends in the
[Vienna] Philharmonic."
Rossbacher had graduated with them in 1985 from Vienna's renowned Academy
of Music. About 20 got jobs in the orchestra, she said. Despite graduating
at the top of
her class, she was not allowed to audition because of its exclusionary
policy against
women.
"When I heard the announcement, I thought this would be my chance to play wi=
th
my hometown orchestra," she said. "I grew up with the Viennese 'sound' from =
the
age of 5. I studied with the best teachers."
Then she saw a Philharmonic ad in April for a solo violist not older than
30. She
was 35, but she applied anyway. "Nobody knew why the age limit was 30. The
working contract for musicians by Austrian law always says the limit is 35,
especially
for a solo position."
A month later she received a letter back. "It was two sentences: I don't
have the
qualifications for an invitation [to audition]. No explanation." She wrote
again, asking
if it was because of her age. "They wrote back, 'Yes, you are too old.' "
She appealed
to the newly installed Philharmonic chairman, Clemens Hellsberg, who had=
said he
favored admitting the best-qualified women.
"I wrote to him: 'How can you do this? Please tell the orchestra what
happened so
I can form a lobby.' This is often done. When someone is a good musician
they often
say, 'Let him play.' There's still a chance."
She said she never heard from Hellsberg. Moreover, he did not let the orches=
tra
members know of her problem, she said. (Hellsberg could not be reached for
comment.) "There were only three people in the whole orchestra who knew=
about my
application," Rossbacher said.
Next she wrote to Ioen Hollander, head of the State Opera Orchestra (in
which all
the Philharmonic members also play). Hollander had made public statements
pressuring the Philharmonic to change its policy.
"He wrote me back, 'We have our own rules,' " Rossbacher said. "In public, h=
e's
all for women. In private, he washed his hands of them."
* * *
Then Rossbacher went to the very top: Austrian Prime Minister Victor Klima, =
also
the Minister of Culture. "He wrote back and confirmed that the Philharmonic
has its
own way to find the right persons for their jobs. 'But I am for women,' he
wrote. 'I
want women to come into the orchestra, but in this case I cannot do
anything.' "
(Rossbacher provided The Times with photocopies of their letters, confirming=
her
account of their contents.)
At last she hired a lawyer to take her complaint to court. "He was a very go=
od
lawyer," she said. "But in August, after a few months of work, he quit. He
said, 'I
cannot do anything for you even though the age limit is illegal. There's no
chance in
Vienna.' "
Who was hired as the new solo violist? Christian Frohn, a second violinist =
from
the State Opera Orchestra. He is 32.
=46riday, February 27, 1998
For Violist, the Rules Never Seemed to Change
By JAN HERMAN
he saga of violist and the Vienna
Philharmonic began Feb. 27, 1997--the
very day the orchestra announced that
it would no longer exclude women.
Rossbacher, the second woman to
break the male barrier at the rival
Berlin Philharmonic, had already
decided it was time for a change. She had
played there for 10 years and was thinking of
embarking on a solo career.
"By chance I saw an interview on
television about the VPO's decision," she
recalled Wednesday in an interview from
Wiesbaden, Germany, where she'd just
given a concert. "I couldn't believe it. I
come from Vienna. I have many friends in the
[Vienna] Philharmonic."
Rossbacher had graduated with them in
1985 from Vienna's renowned Academy
of Music. About 20 got jobs in the orchestra,
she said. Despite graduating at the top of
her class, she was not allowed to audition
because of its exclusionary policy against
women.
"When I heard the announcement, I thought
this would be my chance to play with
my hometown orchestra," she said. "I grew up
with the Viennese 'sound' from the
age of 5. I studied with the best teachers."
Then she saw a Philharmonic ad in April
for a solo violist not older than 30. She
was 35, but she applied anyway. "Nobody knew
why the age limit was 30. The
working contract for musicians by Austrian law
always says the limit is 35, especially
for a solo position."
A month later she received a letter back.
"It was two sentences: I don't have the
qualifications for an invitation [to
audition]. No explanation." She wrote again, asking
if it was because of her age. "They wrote
back, 'Yes, you are too old.' " She appealed
to the newly installed Philharmonic chairman,
Clemens Hellsberg, who had said he
favored admitting the best-qualified women.
"I wrote to him: 'How can you do this?
Please tell the orchestra what happened so
I can form a lobby.' This is often done. When
someone is a good musician they often
say, 'Let him play.' There's still a chance."
She said she never heard from Hellsberg.
Moreover, he did not let the orchestra
members know of her problem, she said.
(Hellsberg could not be reached for
comment.) "There were only three people in the
whole orchestra who knew about my
application," Rossbacher said.
Next she wrote to Ioen Hollander, head of
the State Opera Orchestra (in which all
the Philharmonic members also play). Hollander
had made public statements
pressuring the Philharmonic to change its polic=
y.
"He wrote me back, 'We have our own
rules,' " Rossbacher said. "In public, he's
all for women. In private, he washed his hands
of them."
* * *
Then Rossbacher went to the very top:
Austrian Prime Minister Victor Klima, also
the Minister of Culture. "He wrote back and
confirmed that the Philharmonic has its
own way to find the right persons for their
jobs. 'But I am for women,' he wrote. 'I
want women to come into the orchestra, but in
this case I cannot do anything.' "
(Rossbacher provided The Times with
photocopies of their letters, confirming her
account of their contents.)
At last she hired a lawyer to take her
complaint to court. "He was a very good
lawyer," she said. "But in August, after a few
months of work, he quit. He said, 'I
cannot do anything for you even though the age
limit is illegal. There's no chance in
Vienna.' "
Who was hired as the new solo violist?
Christian Frohn, a second violinist from
the State Opera Orchestra. He is 32.
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______________________________
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