The Boston Symphony Orchestra and its musicians have ratified a three-year contract, successfully avoiding what could have been the ensemble's first strike in its 145-year history. The agreement was ratified on Tuesday.
Relations between the orchestra and management had been strained since March when the BSO announced that music director Andris Nelsons would depart at the end of the upcoming season after 13 years. The musicians' previous contract was set to expire on Sunday, but was extended for 48 hours to allow for further negotiations.
"This agreement marks an important step toward a more collaborative future for the BSO," stated orchestra management, trustees, the Boston Musicians’ Association, the BSO Players Committee, and management in a joint statement released by the BSO. "It creates a precedent-setting partnership between musicians and management in artistic planning and centers excellence across all the work we do on our stages and in our communities. It also establishes a truly collaborative process in the search for our next music director."
The statement further emphasized unity, adding, "We are one institution of musicians, staff, and boards, committed to working together in partnership to advance our artistic mission, inspire audiences, and serve Boston, the Berkshires and beyond."
Musicians and many audience members expressed dissatisfaction with the March decision to end the tenure of Nelsons, a five-time Grammy award winner. The BSO Patron Action Network stated, "While the contract is an important first step, nothing else has resolved. Andris Nelsons has not been reinstated as music director. CEO Chad Smith has still failed to provide any transparency around his future vision for the BSO, while stonewalling the dialogue that is essential to rebuilding trust with musicians, donors, patrons, and subscribers."
In response to the agreement, Smith said it "deepens our collaboration with the musicians and strengthens their role in the artistic planning process." David Rufino, president of the BMA, added that the agreement "guarantees the musicians a meaningful role engaging collaborators and planning repertoire that ensures artistic excellence." Todd Seeber, Chair of the BSO Players Committee, noted that the agreement "guarantees the musicians a critically enhanced role in the engagement of titled conductors, including the music director." The orchestra's season is scheduled to begin on September 17.