Note: this section of the site is updated only when citations are received and confirmed. Email citations to Tenth Anniversary of First Woman VPO Member

February 27, 2006
Ninth Anniversary of First Woman VPO Member
...sigh...

November 7, 2005
- "Circle Jerks" by Jan Herman in his "Straight Up" arts, media & culture blog at ArtsJournal.com

February 27, 2005
Eighth Anniversary of First Woman VPO Member
One token woman in the orchestra...this is progress?

December 20, 2004
Harpist Charlotte Balzereit granted membership in the Vienna Philharmonic, the second (and currenty only) female member. The orchestra has been without any a female member since the "retirement" of harpist Anna Lelkes in 2001. Ms. Lelkes was the first woman, granted membership in 1997 after 26 years in the orchestra as a "non-member."

February 27, 2004
Seventh Anniversary of First Woman VPO Member
This year's scorecard: Male Members: 149 | Female Members: 0
The simple truth is the VPO returned to a male-members-only orchestra upon retirement in 2002 of the first - and so far, the only - woman (who was admitted as a member after 26 years as a "non-member." Of the four women hired since the first women member in 1997, only three remain,still in the three-year probationary period before becoming "eligible" to be voted into membership by the current (all male) Vienna Philharmonic members.

February 16, 2004
- "The Fiddlers from Vienna" by Jan Herman in his "Straight Up" arts, media & culture blog at ArtsJournal.com (scroll down, this is the next-to-last article from the bottom)

February 27, 2003
Sixth Anniversary of First Woman VPO Member
Six years after the inital protests there aren't any female members. The VPO's "Rent-a-Frau" policy of having non-member female musicians perform the orchestra (none of them members) disguises the fact that after the first - and so far, the only - woman was admitted as a member, the VPO returned to an all-male membership upon her "retirement."

February 24, 2003
- "Die Zwei-Prozent-Gesellschaft" (The Two-Percent Society) by Peter Schneeberger in Profil. Partial translation.
- "Sonst machen wir uns lächerlich" (Otherwise we make ourselves laughable) interview with Peter Schmidl by Stefan Grissemann and Peter Schneeberger in Profil. Translation

February 12, 2003
-Press Release from the International Alliance for Women in Music

February 5, 2003
- In Vienna, a Woman in the Orchestra Prompts Headlines by László Molnar in Andante.com

January 28, 2003
- VPO Update on BBC Radio 4's Women's Hour

January 12, 2003
-"Women Overboard!" by Jan Herman in "The Juice" - MSNBC.com's Arts Journal
-"Music, sexism and war" by William Osborne at MSNBC.COM
-"Measuring testosterone in Vienna" by William Osborne at MSNBC.COM

January 10, 2003
-"First woman takes a bow at Vienna Philharmonic" by Jane Burgermeister in The Guardian [misleading headline]
-"Women Aboard!" by Jan Herman in "The Juice" - MSNBC.com's Arts Journal [see correction January 12, 2003]

January 9, 2003
-front page article in Vienna's Kronen Zeitung

March 25, 2002
-"Vienna Remains Vienna" by Michael Manske in Obscurant

March 19, 2002
-"Haitink Earns the Hyperbole" by Martin Bernheimer in Financial Times

March 19, 2002
-"Fresh Power in Familiar Works" by Allan Kozinn in The New York Times

March 18, 2002
-"Vienna Philharmonic Plays Memorial" by Ronald Blum for the Associated Press

March 13, 2002
-excerpt from "Vienna's Masterful Bruckner" by Mark Swed in Los Angeles Times

March 10, 2002
-"Still a Men's Club?" by Mike Boehm in Los Angeles Times

March 8, 2002
-2002 IAWM Press Release

February 27, 2002
Fifth Anniversary of First Woman VPO Member
Now there aren't ANY women members in the orchestra! Lelkes, the first woman member admitted in 1997, retired in January 2002, and so the VPO returned to being an all-male orchestra. (This year they are touring with a handful of women substitutes - dubbed the "rent-a-frau" policy by William Osborne - but don't be fooled: none of these women are VPO members.)

February 27, 2001
Fourth Anniversary of First Woman VPO Member
Still only one women member of the orchestra.

February 15, 2001
-Woman wins Wiener Staatsoper orch. Job

February 8, 2001
-EU lawyer comments on VPO - "Franz Morak und die Frauen" by Dr.Anna Sporrer in Der Standard

December 31, 2000
-"Ein Himmel Voller Geigen" in Focus (German news weekly). Commentary on this article with a partial translation by William Osborne.

February 27, 2000
Third Anniversary of First Woman VPO Member - still only one women member of the orchestra.

January 20, 2000
-"Taking on the Vienna Philharmonic" by Jan Herman in MSNBC

September 26, 1999
-"Keeping That Vienna Sound (And Everything Else)" by James Oestreich in The New York Times

March 15, 1999
-"The Vienna Philharmonic Returns, Still Virtually a Male Bastion " by Anthony Tommasini in The New York Times

February 27, 1999
Second Anniversary of First Woman VPO Member - still only one women member of the orchestra.

February 13, 1999
-VPO Hires Another Woman Harpist (actually, this woman is with the State Opera Orchestra, not the VPO)

February 28, 1998
-"Even Legends Adjust to Time and Trend, Even the Vienna" by James R. Oestreich in The New York Times

February 27, 1998
First Anniversary of First Woman VPO Member: still only one women member of the orchestra.
-"Vienna Philharmonic Still Under Fire" by Jan Herman with Nina Benkotich in the Los Angeles Times
-"For Violist, the Rules Never Seemed to Change" by Jan Herman in the Los Angeles Times

January 22, 1998
-AP wire on Madrid flap
-NPR's "Morning Edition"

January 21, 1998
-"Vienna Philharmonic falls flat in Madrid"
-" El pśblico abuchea a la Filarm—nica de Viena en el 'Bolero' de Ravel " in El Pais
-PRI "The World"

December, 1997
- "Of music and men" by Evelyn Chadwick in The Strad

August, 1997
- portions of "A Knight in Vienna" by Daniel Jaffé in Classic CD

June, 1997
-"Advocacy: Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra" by Monique Buzzarté in the International Alliance for Women in Music Journal
-"Sir Simon rattles the Vienna Establishment" in Classic CD

May/June, 1997
-"Testosterone is not an instrument" by Anne Conners in NOW News
-"'Die Frauenfrage' The Vienna Phil wrestles with it" by Carl Dolmetsch in American Record Guide

April 4, 1997
-"Vienna Orchestra Administrator Quits" AP report in The New York Times

March 16, 1997
-"Who Could Protest a Demonstration?" op-ed by Cathy Jensen in Los Angeles Times Orange County Edition
-"Male orchestra strikes discordant note" by Janelle Gelfand in the Cincinnati Enquirer

March 14, 1997
-"Denting the Philharmonic men's club" by Anne Gray in the San Diego Union Tribune
-"Boys will be boys" by Jim Washburn in Orange County Weekly

March 11, 1997
-"A Women in Its Ranks, the Band Plays On" by Bernard Holland in the The New York Times
-"Vienna Prompts Less Protest in N.Y" by Jan Herman in the Los Angeles Times Orange County Edition

March 10, 1997
-Network television coverage: ABC's "World News Now" and "Good Morning America"
-Newsweek, People Online, and Time

March 9, 1997
-"The Vienna Keeps its Big Bass Sound" by Justin Davidson in Newsday
-"Vienna Plays to American Tune" op-ed in the in the Los Angeles Times Orange County Edition
-"Welcome to the Real World" by John von Rhein in Chicago Tribune

March 8, 1997
-"Protest for Vienna Philharmonic" by Ronald Blum, Associated Press Writer
-Network television coverage: "CNN Headline News," "CNN News," "CBS Weekend News"
-"Die Welt, die Frauen... und das Jahr zwischen zwei Tagen" and "SurfSpur" in the Salzburger Nachrichten

March 7, 1997
-Music Review: "A Symbolic Appearance With Vienna" by Mark Swed in the Los Angeles Times
-Letter to the Editor in the The New York Times
-Music Review: "Making history amid the magic" by Scott Duncan in the Orange County Register
-"The gentlewoman of Vienna" by Rhonda Lokeman in The Kansas City Star
-"Protest haelt sich zunaechst in Grenzen Nur kleine Demonstration vor dem Konzert der Wiener Philharmoniker in Los Angeles" in the Salzburger Nachrichten

March 6, 1997
-Music Review: "Uncanny Homogeneity" by Mark Swed in the Los Angeles Times
-"Strung Up" in CyberTimes arts@large by Matthew Mirapau
-"Die Frauen lassen nicht locker Wiener Philharmoniker mit Protest in den USA empfangen" in Salzburger Nachrichten
-"Philharmoniker in NY: Frauen-Demo," "US-Frauen fuer," and "Watchlist" Philharmoniker sollen sich "beobachtet" fuehlen in Kurier
-"Bibelstunde (Peter Vujica)" in Der Standard
-"Philharmoniker mit Harfenistin: Dennoch Protest" in Die Presse

March 5, 1997
-Front Page. Music Review: "Only Discord Is Outside the Hall Performance: First O.C. concert proves ensemble to be everything it says it is and everything its enemies fear" by Mark Swed in the Los Angeles Times Orange County Edition
-Front Page "Protest: Demonstrators sound off politely to concert-goers about Vienna orchestra's sexist history" by Esther Schader in the Los Angeles Times Orange County Edition
-"Philharmonic's Pride Comes Into Play" by Chris Pasles in the Los Angeles Times Orange County Edition
-"Notes on 26 Years as Official Nonentity" by Heinz Roegle transcribed by Jan Herman and translated from the German by Mike Wiessner in the Los Angeles Times Orange County Edition
-"Protesters mark orchestra's opening night" by Laura Bleiberg in the Orange County Register
-Music Review: "Arguments aside, orchestra makes enchanting music" by Scott Duncan in the Orange County Register
-"Vienna Philharmonic opens U.S. tour" in Associated Press

March 4, 1997
-Front Page "The Sound of Cultures Clashing" by Tracy Wilkinson in the Los Angeles Times

March 3, 1997
-"Feminist Protests and Vienna Musicians" by Bernard Holland in the The New York Times
-"Vienna Orchestra's First Woman Is 'Very, Very Glad'" by Janet Wilson in the Los Angeles Times Orange County Edition
-"All-Male Orchestra Admits One Woman" by Ruth Walker in theChristian Science Monitor

March 2, 1997
-Sturm auf die Maennerbastion in Kurier
-Asterix und die Emanzen (Reinhard Kager)
-Bach philharmonisch (Peter Blaha) Buehne 3/1997

March 1, 1997
-"Vienna Boys Club Faces the Music" by Joshua Kosman in the San Francisco Chronicle
-Broadcast on NPR's "Weekend Edition - Saturday"
-"The last trump for a male bastion" by Scott Duncan in the Orange County Register
-"Strictly speaking until yesterday I did not exist officially" exclusive interview with Anna Lelkes by Heinz Roegl in the Salzburger Nachrichten
-"New York Times begruesst Philharmonikerinnen" in Die Presse
-"Anna Lelkes folgt Maennern in die USA" in Der Standard
-"Philharmonikerinnen: Anderswo schon lang Schnee von gestern Frauenorchester und (Alibi-)Frauen im Orchester" in Kurier

March/April 1997
-"Philharmonic Orchestra Forbis Membership to Women" by Monique Buzzarté in the NYC chapter of NOW's NOW News

March, 1997
-"Vienna Philharmonic Assailed for Discrimination in Hiring" by Monique Buzzarté in the AFM Local 802's Allegro

February 28, 1997
-Front Page "Vienna Philharmonic Lets Women Join in Harmony" by Jane Perlez in The New York Times
-"The Vienna Philharmonic Votes to Admit Woman" by Tracy Wilkinson in the Los Angeles Times
-"First Woman Joins Vienna Philharmonic" by Tracy Wilkinson and Jan Herman in the Los Angeles Times Orange County Edition
-National Public Radio Morning Edition broadcast with Dan Charles
-"Vienna Philharmonic to admit women" by Scott Duncan in the Orange County Register
-"Orchestra Faces Protests" by Justin Davidson in Newsday
-"Vienna Orchestra's New Tune" in The Washington (DC) Post
-"Last in its Class" in Chicago Tribune
-"Orchestra ends men-only policy" in St. Petersburg (FL) Times
-"The boys in the band let women join" in The Toronto Star
-"Orchestra bows to reality" and "Playing along" in The Financial Times
-"Vienna Philharmonic drops men-only ruling" in The Herald (Glasgow)
-"People" in the International Herald Tribune
-"Die erste Wiener Philharmonikerin ...," "Harfenistin Anna Lelkes ist das erste weibliche Mitglied der Philharmoniker..." and "Aus zwei Haenden wurde eine Philharmonikerin" in Der Standard
-"Es gibt die erste Philharmonikerin..." in Kurier
-"Ab nun duerfen auch die Frauen Votum der Philharmoniker..." and "Sie loesen sich doch nicht auf" in Salzburger Nachrichten
-"Wiener Philharmoniker stimmten gestern ab 'Frau Philharmonikerin!' " in Kronenzeitung
-"Frauen bei den Philharmonikern" and "Wiens Philharmoniker ergaenzen sich weiblich" and "Liebe Abgeordnetinnen" in Die Presse
-"Entscheidung nach gestriger Vollversammlung Frauen zu den Philharmonikern" in Wiener Zeitung

February 27, 1997
First Woman Admitted to VPO Membership
-"Erhebende Klangintensitaet Musikverein: Philharmoniker unter Barenboim" and "Sorgen" in Kurier
-"Fast eine Bruckner-Oper" in Salzburger Nachrichten
-"Wiener Philharmoniker vor der Reise" and "Mandr, 's ischt nit Zeit" in Die Presse
-"Musikverein: "Wiener"/Barenboim Auf dem Weg nach Amerika..." and "Hausverbot?" in Wiener Zeitung
-"Ein Streicher-Dialog im Namen Mozarts," "US-Frauen ruesten zum Philharmoniker-Empfang" and Cartoon "Geteiltes Leid ist halbes Leid" in Der Standard
-"Der Sturm aufs Maennerreich" and Cartoon: "Es gibt Geruechte..." in News 9/97
-"Worueber Wien...lacht" in Falter 9/97
-"Vienna Philharmonic ends 155-year-old ban on women" from Reuter wire
-AP Worldstream
-"Vienna Faces the Music: Do Men Play Better?" by Ruth Walker in the Christian Science Monitor

February 26, 1997
-"Vienna male players forced to face music" by Eric Frey in The Financial Times

February 25, 1997
-"Lob fuer Holender..." and "Langer Anlauf ins Finale Philharmoniker unter Daniel Barenboim" in Kurier

February 24, 1997
-"Philharmonische Demonstration" in Die Presse
-"Vom philharmonischen Wachwerden der Toene" in Der Standard

February 24, 1997
-"Sexistisches Aergernis" and "Die Phall-Harmoniker" in Profil

February 23, 1997
-"Nach den Sternen greifen..." and "Palastrevolte?" in Kronenzeitung

February 22, 1997
-"Demolierer-Polka" in Kronenzeitung
-" Rechte Capricenschaedeln, " "Alle zuruecktreten!" and "Philharmoniker: Vorstand vor Abloese?" in Kurier

February 21, 1997
- "Official Suggests Disbanding Vienna Philharmonic" by Jan Herman, and "Morning Report" by Angie Chuang in the Los Angeles Times Orange County Edition
-"Orchestra Postpones Decision" by Jan Herman in the Los Angeles Times
-"People" in the Orange County Register
-"Philharmoniker drohen mit Selbstaufloesung," "Philharmoniker wehren sich gegen," "Bevormundung in der Frauenfrage" and "Ein typischer Fall von Austromasochismus" in Der Standard
-"Philharmonisches" in the Wiener Zeitung
-"Philharmoniker drohen mit ihrer Aufloesung" in Die Presse
-"If You Don't Like Them the Way They Are, They'll Disband" and "Fed Up" in Salzburger Nachrichten
-"Philharmoniker "unter Druck" Orchester-Vorstand droht mit Aufloesung" in Kurier

February 20, 1997
- "Vienna Invite Defended" by Jan Herman in the Los Angles Times and Los Angeles Times Orange County Edition.
-Reuter wire report: "Philharmonic leader says won't play with women"
- "Es gibt keinen Weg zurueck" in Der Standard
-"Und die Herren zieren sich weiter" and "Mit Tsching, Bumm und Domingo Muehsal des Repertoirebetriebs: Verdis "Otello" an der Wiener Staatsoper " in the Salzburger Nachrichten
-"Volksbegehren: Frauen freuen sich ueber Unterstuetzung 'Auch Maenner fuer Gerechtigkeit'" in Wiener Zeitung

February 19, 1997
- "Orchestra Postpones Decision" by Jan Herman in the Los Angeles Times Orange County Edition
-"Vienna Philharmonic delays vote on women" by Scott Duncan in the Orange County Register
- Reuter wire report : "Vienna Philharmonic will have to admit women"
-"Philharmonische Frauenscheu" in Der Standard
-"Philharmoniker: Frauen-Abstimmung vertagt Frauen, bitte warten!" in Kronenzeitung
-"Sie entscheiden. Oder auch nicht Philharmoniker: Abstimmung ueber Frauen-Aufnahme fuer Dienstag nachmittag geplant" in the Kurier
-A summary of Austrian press reports immediately after the "postponement" of the vote.

February 18, 1997

-"Kanzlerlektion in Frauenfragen Klima erhofft von den Philharmonikern eine weise Entscheidung" in Der Standard

February 17, 1997
-"Ist das A ein schlechterer Ton als das Es? Philharmonische Betrachtungen zum Thema 'Political Correctness' "in Der Standard
-" Dienstag geht es um Frauen und Gagen..." in the Kurier

February 16, 1997
-"The Vienna boys' club" by Scott Duncan and "Criticism surprises concert presenters" in the Orange County Register

February 15, 1997
-"Philharmoniker gehen dekoriert zu Abstimmung" in Der Standard

February 14, 1997
-"Von boesen Maennern und edlen Frauen die- und jenseits des Orchestergrabens..." in Der Standard

February 12, 1997
-" Am Wochenende wird's fuer Musikerinnen ernst Philharmoniker-Vollversammlung entscheidet ueber 'Frauen' "in Der Standard

February 11, 1997
-"Tarnished Brass" by Richard Goldstein in the Village Voice [This appeared on the newsstands well in advance of the cover date, and was the first major article to run in the United States.]
-"Flute Tones for Women " in Der Standard

February 10, 1997
-"Viennese to Reconsider Refusal to Admit Women" by Jan Herman in the Los Angeles Times
-"Die Philharmoniker & die Hetzkampagne" in Taeglich Alles

February 8/9, 1997
-"The Philharmonic on a Collison Course with 'Political Correction'" and "Austria's Ambassadors" in Der Standard

February 8, 1997
-"Vienna Orchestra Hears Crescendo to Admit Women" by Jan Herman in the Los Angeles Times
- "Women's Philharmonic Has Some Scores to Settle" by Randy Lewis in the Los Angeles Times Orange County Edition
-"The women who fought to be heard" in The Daily Telegraph
-"Der Ansatz" in Oberoesterreichische Nachrichten
-" Wittmann fuer Philharmonikerinnen - notfalls unter Druck" and "Befreiungsschlag" in Kurier

February 7, 1997
-"Protests Planned for Viennese" by Jan Herman in the Los Angeles Times

February 6, 1997
-"Women's Groups Vow Protest at Vienna Orchestra O.C. Stop" by Jan Herman in the Los Angeles Times Orange County Edition
-"Vienna Philharmonic to draw protests in O.C." by Scott Duncan in the Orange County Register
-"Gender and Character" by Susi Schneider in Der Standard

February 5, 1997
-"Wie die philharmonischen Bastionenen fallen" in Die Presse

February 4, 1997
-"Nuetzen Vollversammlungen der Musik?" by Kari Harb in the Salzburger Nachrichten
-"Wie ein Ritt auf einer Lipizzanerin" in Kronenzeitung

February 3, 1997
-Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra gives up its "male only" image" by John Porter in Deutsche Presse Agentur
-"Pultstar Riccardo Muti ueber Konservativismus...." in Der Standard
-"Die Philharmonische Psyche" by Regina Himmelbauer in Der Standard

February, 1997
-Frauen zu den Philharmonikern - Nein danke? alpha
-Die Wiener Philharmonikerinnen? NMZ

January 31, 1997
-"Orchestra may let women join" AP Report
-telemax Kronenzeitung
-Frauen an die Instrumente? Phil(un)harmonisches (Herbert Pirker) (Die Furche)

January 28, 1997
-"Morning Edition" broadcast on National Public Radio by Dean Olsher

January 27, 1997
-"Women: Odd man out" by Katharine Viner in The Guardian
- Das Orakel von Elfi" Kleine Zeitung

January 25, 1997
-"Their Fill of Harmony" from Kurier

January 24, 1997
-"Mitteleuropa and the soul of sexism" by Anne McElvoy in The Daily Telegraph
-"New Look for the Vienna Philharmonic on Gender Front" by Martin Kettle in The Guardian
- "Are Women Really Entering the Philharmonic?" and "Die Damen und die neue Zeit" from Die Presse
-"Philharmonikerinnen"? - Man(n) ist verstimmt
-"Abschiedsgeschenk" Scholtens: Frauen sollen bei den Wiener Philharmonikern spielen duerfen - die Herren Musiker muessen zustimmen Taeglich Alles
-"Schon bald Philharmonikerinnen" in the Salzburger Nachrichten
- Grosse Zulagen-Symphonie (Frido Huetter) - Philh(un)harmoniker "Falsch gelegen" Kleine Zeitung

January 23, 1997
-"Kulturnachrichten, auch absurde" from Kurier
-" Vier kleine Geschichten" from Der Standard
- "Women to Enter Male Philharmonic" an inaccurate AP report. Get the correct information from the beginning of William Osborne's post or from NPR's "Morning Edition" broadcast.
-Frauen Kronenzeitung Werfen die Wiener Philharmoniker 155 Jahre Tradition ueber Bord? (Ernst Naredi-Rainer) Kleine Zeitung

January 22, 1997
- Dollars wohl nur noch mit Frauen (Dieter Riedlinger) industrie
- Von Waldheim bis zu dne Philharmonikern (Gerd Leitgeb) Die ganze Woche

January 20, 1997
-"Political correctness fur die Philharmoniker," "Lieber Pop als Klassik?," and "Schlaft ruhig, Madchen!" in Die Presse
-"Die letzten Monikaner" in January 20, 1997 edition of Der Profil

January 19, 1997
-"Philharmonic - Storming the Male Bastion" a full-page feature article with three sidebars in the Kurier

January 18/19, 1997
-"Vor dem Staat sind nicht alle gleich" in Der Standard

January 17, 1997
-"Holender decides for Equal Rights: The State Opera is from this moment on 'open' for women musicians" and "Philharmoniker weiter reine Herrenpartie?" from Kurier

January 16, 1997
- VPO is Getting Pregnant from Kurier .
-"Mannerbund in Schwierigkeiten" in the Salzburger Nachrichten
-"Disharmonies about Philharmonic Ladies" from Der Standard

January 15, 1997
-Front page headlines of Kurier : "US Womens' Groups Threaten Boycott of the Philharmonic/Massive Pressure on the Orchestra to Take Women Musicians"

December 29, 1996
-"The Year in Classical Music" by James R. Oestreich. The New York Times, p. 32

December 26, 1996 to January 1, 1997
-"Women Trumpet Musical Protest" by Tom Hagler and Louise Potterton in The European p. 2

51/52/96
-"The Music of White Men" by Juerg Stenzl in Falter

November 7, 1996
-"Frackzwang, Frauen und Spitzengagen" in Stern p. 133-136. (Translation of a portion of an interview with Christoph Dohnanyi (Conductor of the Cleveland Orchestra).

October 16, 1996
-"Vienna Boys Choir Hands The Baton to a Women" by Jane Perlez in The New York Times, p. C11, C16

August 9, 1996
-"Der Chauvi-Walzer" by Juergen Kesting in Die Woche ,p. 29

August 2, 1996-"Women Who Know the Score," by Stewart Collins in The Guardian ,p. 10

February 13, 1996
- The (Un?)official Vienna Philharmonic WWW Page contains a transcript of "Musikalishche Misogynie" as broadcast on West German State Radio.

April 6, 1995
-"Without Harping: Philharmonic Female Finally Gets Her Due" by George Jahn, Associated Press, Santa Barbara News-Press .

February 21/22, 1981
-"Women and Music: The Door is Open" by Franz Endler in Die Presse

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