Delayed downbeat for National Broadcast Orchestra

When the CBC Radio Orchestra played its last concert on November 16, 2008, anger and disappointment was mixed with hope: its conductor, Alain Trudel, had hatched a plan to revive the ensemble as the independent National Broadcast Orchestra with support from Montreal businessman Philippe Labelle and the Chan Centre for Performing Arts, where it would perform.

At the time, Trudel told the Straight a fundraising concert would be planned for the spring, where, he said, “we will unveil the season which will start in September [2009].”

But that fundraiser has now been postponed. “We’re not planning concerts now in the spring,” Trudel confirmed. “Things are going to happen more in the fall, but we need to get things really well organized, and the economic situation is very difficult for everybody.”

He insisted that despite financial challenges, “We are raising the money.”¦But our big [fundraising] events are going to be at the beginning of September.”

However, the musicians say they have not had any confirmation of performance dates. “The frustration right now is that everyone’s plans for next season have to be made right at this time period,” Gene Ramsbottom, the CBCRO’s former principal clarinetist, said. “I’m planning things and I don’t want to create conflicts.”

Trudel insists the ensemble is on track. On March 16, a news release announced the appointment of Robert Gloor, executive director of Orchestra London Canada, as executive director of the NBO, “An orchestra needs two captains,” said Trudel. “If you just have a music director, it’s not enough. And for me, it was so encouraging to find this quality of person. So now we can move along, and very soon.”

Comments