'The Audience Won't Notice a Difference'.

A September 2012 Slipped Disc article had us thinking here in Atlanta:  'this couldn't possibly happen to us'.

http://www.artsjournal.com/slippeddisc/2012/09/the-man-who-shrunk-an-orchestra-says-audience-wont-notice.html

Robert Birman -- CEO of Louisville Orchestra and author of the oft-quoted quip -- 'the audience won't notice a difference' if the number of musicians is cut -- says that in February, he is stepping down.  A general press release applauds his success, and notes how sad the musicians are to see him go.

http://www.whas11.com/news/local/Louisville-Orchestra-CEO-to-step-down-in-February-186613191.html 
  
However ... outside the Birman Universe, things are a bit different.  One comment posted in a Slipped Disc article:  

"Mr Birman’s actions as CEO merit the negative cyberspace attention he’s received. He locked out the orchestra and took away the musicians’ health insurance. He advertised for the locked-out musicians’ jobs on Craigslist in the same section you might search for day laborers or office temp workers. He told the press he didn’t think his audience would notice the difference between a 71-member orchestra and a 55-member orchestra. He’s put out one of the dullest, most insulting seasons in recent memory. Half of their opening-night gala concert was spent backing up a Vegas act. If his goal was to transform an orchestra with a proud, innovative tradition into a glorified pops orchestra, I regret that he succeeded."