Good morning, Rudy.

--- In TheFaceOfBach@yahoogroups.com, rudolf riefstahl
<rmriefstahl@...> wrote:
>
> I have responded firmly, but politely, to the minister of culture
about this unfortunate state of affairs.  I hope that tha US council
for the arts doesn't act in like fashion.  I was unable to got
anywhere with the site, de.com referred to in your email.  Best, Rudy

Thank you for writing.
This should work: www.savelapetitebande.com
Sorry for the first bad hyperlink.

>
> --- On Fri, 2/6/09, realsongeur <petit_songeur@...> wrote:
>
> From: realsongeur <petit_songeur@...>
> Subject: [TheFaceOfBach] HELP! Please help saving "La Petite
Bande"! HELP!
> To: TheFaceOfBach@yahoogroups.com
> Date: Friday, February 6, 2009, 1:05 PM
>
>
>
>
>
>
> 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.savelapetiteban de.com.
>
> The minister can be e-mailed about this. Please be polite and
> write only to show your concern. His address is
> bert.anciaux@ vlaanderen. be. Please use as subject «Save La
Petite
> Bande».
>
> A group has been opened on FaceBook too:
> www.facebook. com/group. php?gid=12315254 0023. Welcome!
>
> Have a good evening and a nice week-end.
> C. Songeur.
>