Negotiations are continuing between Cameron Mackintosh Limited and the Musicians? Union over plans to reduce the size of the orchestra for Les Miserables when the production moves along Shaftesbury Avenue to the Queen?s Theatre in March.
The Queens Theatre has a smaller orchestra pit and Cameron Mackintosh is considering introducing a new computerised music system to compensate for the reduction in the size of the orchestra. The Realtime Music Solution system works in conjunction with live musicians and enables an operator to provide instrumental performances to represent absent instruments. John Smith, General Secretary of the Musicians? Union commented: ?Our members would resist at all costs any system which would result in not only the loss of employment, but also the delivery of a product of inferior quality to the public.? A spokesperson for Cameron Mackintosh countered, ?The blending of live musicians and synthesised sounds has been normal practice in the West End for over 20 years, and many large-scale current West End hits use less than ten musicians.? Talks were ongoing as ArtsProfessional went to press with both sides confident of an amicable solution.
Published: 26-01-2003