After three years of service in the State Opera, Palloc will qualify for
membership in the Philharmonic. This is about the time Anna Lelkes (their
current second harpist and the only woman in the Philharmonic) will retire.
In other words, she will enter the Philharmonic just in time to replace
their one woman member.
The VPO is trying to present this as a big step forward. Except for the
ORF (Austrian State Television) the press reports in Austria have a cynical
tone. They note that hiring women harpists is nothing new. (And the ORF
-might- also do a critical report soon.)
The dpa (German Press Agency) notice I saw here in Germany presented the
hiring of Palloc as if it were a significant change. It looks like they
took their report straight from a VPO announcement. If anyone sees any USA
press reports please let the list know what stance they take.
It is not at all unusual for the orchestra to hire women harpists
(especially with a non-membership status). Christine Anders worked with
them for many years before Lelkes and Mueller joined the Staatsoper. Even
at the turn of the century a certain Frau Driyer-Zeidler worked with them.
For them to hire woman harpists is nothing new.
William Osborne
100260.243@compuserve.com
(You may forward this post.)
P.S .Yesterday the Southwest German State Radio (SWR 2) in Germany
presented a very critical broadcast about the VPO's sexism. Most of the
material was taken from a report done by the West German State Radio in
1995.