] The musicians are demanding that the symphony dip into
] its donation-fattened endowment to give them raises.
] Management refuses, insisting that the fund be left
] intact to ensure the 125-year-old symphony never again
] faces bankruptcy.
]
] The impasse here is a reflection of the immense strains
] threatening orchestras across the nation.
]
] Intense and often divisive contract negotiations consumed
] three of the nation's top orchestras last fall: Chicago,
] Cleveland and Philadelphia. All were settled without
] strikes. But analysts say they and many smaller groups
] are struggling. In response, management has asked
] musicians to change the way they work.
]
] Contracts that traditionally set rigid limits on
] rehearsal times and performance dates have been amended
] so orchestras can reach out to new audiences.
]
] And in this year's contract negotiations, musicians in
] both Chicago and Philadelphia agreed to cut a few
] full-time positions - a painful concession in the
] classical music world, where hundreds of musicians might
] audition for a single open seat.
 . . .
] The musicians say they won't play until they have a new contract.
] Adams says he won't negotiate until they resume performances.
] Ticket holders who looked forward to a winter full of Mozart and
] Rachmaninoff and Tchaikovsky will have to be satisfied with
] recorded CDs.

Looks like the strike at my local St. Louis Symphony is indicative of a larger nationwide problem.