Good morning to all of you.

The motto of nowadays Flemish Government could be: «Sic transit
gloria mundi».

I've just heard that the period orchestra 'La Petite Bande' could be
moving down to a temporary ensemble or to a 'project' ensemble from
2010 onwards, for so far it could still be able to survive... It
is acclaimed in the whole world as one among 'the' orchestras know
to have reached new peaks in the 'authentic' playing and as a
inspiring example for others, but that doesn't seem to be of any
importance to the advisory commission who already has been searching
for other cultural sacrifices in order to cut subventions.

One of the best-known among 'period' orchestras is threatened of
State grant cuts from 2010 onwards by the 'culture' minister of the
Flemish Government, making it impossible for it to stay as a
permanent ensemble. This minister Bert Anciaux has been searching
for ways of cutting or cancelling subventions and long before the
world crisis, other orchestras like Paul Dombrecht's «Il
Fondamento», Jos van Immerseel's «Anima Eterna» and the Flemish
Opera's orchestra too have been threatened, not to speak about
theater companies.

This period orchestra has been launched as a temporary orchestra in
the early 1970s by Gustav Leonhardt and Sigiswald Kuijken in order
to perform one of the first revivals of Rameau operas in France.
Since it booked incredible success, the orchestra still is working
now and its repertoire has grown: Stage performances & recordings
showed their skills for composers from the early baroque to early
romantic styles. Many among their numerous recordings have been
acclaimed and have won awards, its conductor Sigiswald Kuijken has
just been 2nd Laureate of the 'Cultuurprijs' (most important
cultural award in Belgium) two days ago.

What can be done? There is a petition on the internet:
www.savelapetitebande.com.

The minister can be e-mailed about this. Please be polite and
write only to show your concern. His address is
bert.anciaux@.... Please use as subject «Save La Petite
Bande».

A group has been opened on FaceBook too:
www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=123152540023. Welcome!

Have a good evening and a nice week-end.
C. Songeur.