Orchestra Director Blasts Minister for 'Failed Reforms'
Published: 08.09.2010 09:06
ERSO ( Photo: Postimees/Scanpix )
Andres Siitan, executive director of the Estonian National Symphony Orchestra (ERSO), sent Minister of Culture Laine Jänes an open letter criticizing her for what he terms "failed" reforms that have put the orchestra in a difficult financial situation.
Siitan wrote that Jänes made a proposal last year to restructure ERSO and the State Concert Institute Eesti Kontsert, handing over the management of the Estonia concert hall to ERSO, uudised.err.ee reported. The Estonian National Male Choir and the early music group Hortus Musicus were also to be integrated into ERSO.
"These reforms were derailed right from the start. There was no general discussion, nobody sat down at the same table... Indeed, there were discussions, but they were with everyone separately," he wrote.
"Of course, most of the issues arose from those agencies that were transferred from one place to another. It seemed strange and incomprehensible that you never invited me, as Director of ERSO, to any meeting held with the participation of the male choir and members of Hortus Musicus... Nevertheless, it was ERSO who had to take these two new organizations under its wing."
According to Siitan, an absurd situation was created in which the symphony orchestra with its reduced budget and inadequate additional funding was supposed to pay overhead not only for its own premises, but for those of the two other groups.
"You can say that you are dealing with inadequate and inefficient management here. On the other hand it may be noted that this was a futile reassignment of groups and info manipulation that led to the emergence of undue stress, cost and anarchy," the letter read.
In a press release following the publication of the letter, the ministry's Secretary General Siim Sukles said that the difficulties have indeed been caused by faults in management. "Unfortunately we learned only today the seriously disturbing fact that the organization is running a budget deficit of three million kroons (approximately 200,000 euros)," he said.