How The Germans Fire An Orchestra Boss

The departure of an orchestra CEO in Britain and the United States is invariably shrouded in legal niceties and false praise. It can take years for the full story to emerge.

Not so in Germany, where the business is commendably transparent.

Here’s what went down recently in Nuremberg, as reported by BR Klassik:

At the beginning of May, a major showdown took place at the Nuremberg Symphony Orchestra. With a bang, the orchestra unexpectedly parted ways with its artistic director, Lucius Hemmer….

Roland Fleck, former director of the Nuremberg trade fair, has been connected to the orchestra since childhood and has been a member of the supporting association since 1993. “Lucius Hemmer apparently had no idea beforehand that something like this could happen to him,” he told BR Klassik. “He went to a board meeting as usual, where he was supposed to report on the current situation. And there, as agenda item ‘zero,’ they presented him with the following: Either you sign a termination agreement, or we’re throwing you out.”

The orchestra itself stands united behind the decision. Anton Doppelbauer, currently chairman of the orchestra’s board, speaks for the musicians and puts it somewhat more bluntly: “It became clear that all the ideas, the willingness to compromise, and the seemingly joint decision-making process turned out to be more of a facade in retrospect. The decisions were made long ago. And so, over the years, tensions have built up to the point where one has the feeling there’s a wall between the orchestra and the management. Agreements are made that affect everyone, but one person makes the final decision.”

This assessment is also supported by chief conductor Jonathan Darlington…

Read on here.

Hemmer, who held the job for 23 years, has filed a lawsuit for unfair dismissal and is unable to comment.

Boston, do take note.

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