This week saw the breakdown of another negotiation session between the Chicago Symphony Orchestra musicians and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Association on Tuesday, April 16, prolonging the strike that began just before midnight on March 10.
A statement released by management says the musicians shared a “counter proposal to the Association’s last, best and final offer,” which had been delivered on April 7. The association rejected the counteroffer. No further negotiation sessions are scheduled at this time.
In light of the impasse, the CSO announced more concert cancellations — this time through Tuesday, April 30. The slate of canceled concerts includes performances by cellist Gautier Capuçon and pianist Simon Trpčeski. Refunds and exchanges are available to ticketholders for these engagements.
Meanwhile, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra musicians will continue to offer free concerts throughout the Chicago area, including a recital at Studebaker Theater for a group of middle school students visiting from Iowa and a performance at Flatts and Sharpe Music Company in Rogers Park. This past week, the striking CSO musicians performed to an audience of more than 3,500 in Chicago’s Woodlawn neighborhood
Editor’s note: The Chicago Symphony Orchestra Association is an advertiser on WFMT.