The protest statement by two ex-chairmen and two major benefactors
THE appointment of Gerard Schwarz as musical director of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra in 2001 was greeted with enthusiastic critical acclaim by the public, critics and orchestra alike. Optimism abounded. It was the start of a new era.
Since then, the orchestra's reputation has gone from strength to strength and its performances have achieved consistently higher and higher standards.
At the same time, Schwarz's devotion and dedication both to the orchestra and the city whose name it bears have been unsurpassed. No-one could have given more.
His appointment was initially for five years, with the clear expectation it was only the start of a close and longer-term relationship.
We are dismayed, therefore, that his contract is not to be renewed, but that he has been offered a radically different and short-term contract in a capacity other than musical director.
We are not at all surprised that he has declined this offer.
No doubt the board came to its decision after much deliberation, but did it seriously expect him to accept an offer so patently unrealistic?
Who, in their right mind, could contemplate a demoted future that would involve not only a sharply declining number of engagements but also no continuing authority over artistic standards?
And who could consider accepting an impossible situation with regards to both the board or to a "successor" who would be receiving an increasingly high profile in the lead-up to European Capital of Culture in 2008?
No wonder the "offer" was declined.
But at least the Maestro retains his reputation and dignity in this sorry saga. Would that the same could be said of the board.
Professor Peter Toyne, ex-chairman, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Society Peter Johnson, ex-chairman, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Society Aldham Robarts, benefactor, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Society Rex Makin, benefactor, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Society.
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