Beogradska filharmonija[/caption]
The Belgrade Philharmonic Orchestra has announced today that it will resume concerts after a three-week strike. The first concert is scheduled for Friday, April 4, '25 at 8 pm at the Kolarac concert hall in Belgrade.
The strike committee of the Philharmonie stated that its demands have not been met and that the Ministry of Culture has promised to continue talks to find a solution. The board indicated that the employees have risen up and that they will continue the struggle by constantly reminding those in charge of the promises made.
"We have viewed the strike as a radical decision in the fight for our position, but we are suspending this action so that the musicians do not 'starve to death'. Our demands are blocked by bad laws and even worse regulations. Therefore, good will is not enough; we need courage, interest and nerve from those in leadership to take responsibility for changing the laws and regulations of which we are hostages," according to the strike committee of the Belgrade Philharmonic Orchestra.
Strike committee: "Demands not met, but musicians must not starve"
The core ensemble of the orchestra, consisting exclusively of professional musicians, is requesting a salary increase equal to the average monthly wage in Serbia: 100,738 Serbian dinars (€ 859.54). (You immediately understand why, among others, Serbian and other Eastern European musicians are so eager to perform with orchestras in Western Europe.)
Conductor Gabriel Feltz fully supports the strike and actions with an open letter in which he refers to the scandalously meager wages of the musicians. He states: "I stand fully behind our orchestra and fully support our musicians. I ask you all to do the same and also stand behind them."
That actions are taken under such circumstances is more than understandable. The orchestra performs at a high level despite these conditions and is a welcome guest at many major venues internationally. It must be particularly frustrating for musicians to be allowed to perform in countries where musicians of top orchestras earn fees that the Serbs can barely dream of. Note that this orchestra is the only one in Serbia that receives state subsidies.