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I was looking around on the Clarinet board and came across a despicable orchestra. scream


On February 13, 2001 violist Ursula Plaichinger became the first
non-harpist woman to win an audition for the Vienna State Opera. After a
three year tenure, members of the State Opera Orchestra become members of the Vienna Philharmonic. Ms. Plaichinger should have entered the Vienna Philharmonic 14 months ago, but she has still not been made a member. She would have been the first non-harpist woman to join the Vienna Philharmonic in its 156 year history.

There is an application procedure and vote necessary for entering the
Philharmonic, but it is merely a formality. There has never been a
documented case of a member of the State Opera Orchestra being denied
membership in the Philharmonic after the tenure requirement is completed.
It is also noteworthy that all of the men who have completed the tenure
requirement and who entered the orchestra after Ms. Plaichinger, have been made members. She alone has been left out.

Very little information is available that might explain why Ms. Plaichinger
has not been made a member. The Vienna Philharmonic offers one of the most prestigious and high-paying orchestra jobs in the world. It seems unlikely that Ms. Plaichinger would not have applied for membership unless something put her under extreme duress.

Two months ago Ms. Plaichinger took a leave of absence from the orchestra
and is now living in Amsterdam. She occasionally returns to Vienna to play
in various ensembles.

Given that she would have been the first non-harpist woman to enter the
orchestra, the Austrian media should have long since inquired about what is
going on, but there have been no reports. It is a difficult story to
research, because the members of the Vienna Philharmonic have been
-strictly- forbidden to speak with the press -- except by special
permission and while they are monitored by the orchestra's officials.

It has now been eight years since the Vienna Philharmonic agreed to open
its doors to women, but they have still not given a single non-harpist
woman membership. Even if many expected that this sort of thing would
probably happen, it is still very troubling and saddening news. If there
are any new developments concerning Ms. Plaichinger's status, I will keep
you updated as I learn of them.

This is a forwaded message posted on the American Musicological Society list, with permission to forward to others.

i don't think sexuality was the issue, here.