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14 players leave the Phil in 'revenge' walkout

THE Hongkong Philharmonic Orchestra, already embroiled in the controversial sacking of First Associate Concertmaster Marcus Lehmann, has been hit by a rash of resignations following last Sunday's deadline for the signing of new contracts.

''Fourteen players, including five principals, won't be back for the next season,'' a member of the orchestra, who declined to be named, said yesterday.

''They are voting with their feet. You could call it the St Valentine's Day Revenge,'' he said, referring to the dismissal of 14 players on February 14, 1991 - dubbed the ''St Valentine's Day Massacre'' by the press.

Among those bound to be sorely missed are Principal Trumpet Judith Saxton, Principal Flute Donna Orbovich and Principal Cello Jay Humeston - the latter retiring after 14 years with the orchestra.

Already out of commission are Concertmaster Michael Ma, who suffered a serious eye injury during a brawl at City Hall last December, and Lehmann, who has been ordered by the Phil's management to stay at home until August - the month before he appears before the Supreme Court in a legal action concerning a backstage injury he received in December 1986.

''Marcus under house-arrest, Michael Ma about to undergo a second operation on his eye, and so many important players quitting - it's like a bad movie on a Saturday night,'' said one defector.

Now, as in February 1991, the key targets for resentment in the 92-strong orchestra are music director David Atherton, who has been accused of being dictatorial and arrogant, and general manager Stephen Crabtree, who is regarded by most players as their adversary and whose persistent refusal to talk to the press has earned him the sobriquet ''Mr No-Comment''.

Also a source of acrimony have been the players' contracts, with clauses which have been called ''draconian'' - communication with the press is one of several grounds for instant dismissal - and complicated language which has been derided as ''gibberish''.

Neither Mr Atherton nor Mr Crabtree responded to calls from the South China Morning Post yesterday.

''They're not available, but I managed to speak to Mr Crabtree's secretary,'' a weary-sounding staff member said. ''Her reply was 'no comment'.''

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