Atlanta Ballet used recorded orchestral and brass-band music instead of a live orchestra for a performance of “Passion and Pride” at Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre, prompting opposition from members of the American Federation of Musicians. The dispute centers on when the company will employ live players and how that choice affects the ballet experience.
Atlanta Federation of Musicians President Bruce Kenney confirmed the substitution, according to Atlanta News First. Kenney argued that the company should continue adapting while providing audiences with the strongest production possible.
Musicians Say Live Sound Is Part of the Art Form
The response is not limited to the union's leadership. According to the same report, musicians plan to make their objections visible at Atlanta Ballet Orchestra performances that proceed without live players. Their position is that the orchestra is a substantive part of the performance, not merely a technical accompaniment.
The Atlanta Federation of Musicians, organized in 1901 according to the Atlanta Federation of Musicians, represents around 700 musicians throughout Georgia. Kenney has served as the local's president since 2015. Among the players affected by shifts in orchestra bookings is Jeanne Carere, who currently serves as principal flute with the Atlanta Ballet Orchestra, per the union's own roster listing.
A broader post-pandemic context
The available industry data provide broader context but do not establish a financial or touring rationale for Atlanta Ballet's decision, nor do they offer ballet-specific evidence. In its February-March 2021 COVID-19 Impact Survey, the League of American Orchestras reported that 23% of participating orchestras were offering performances to live, in-person audiences, while 28% were offering no performances, either live or streamed. The figures document the disruption facing U.S. orchestras during the pandemic period, but the supplied research does not connect those conditions to this Atlanta production.
Ballet Says Commitment to Live Music Remains, Points to Nutcracker and Swan Lake
Atlanta Ballet has said its commitment to the orchestra, its artists and its audiences remains strong. The company also acknowledged the role of live music in the ballet experience while concentrating orchestra services on two major productions: “The Nutcracker” and “Swan Lake.”
Under that plan, five “Swan Lake” performances will use live orchestra services, as will a four-week run of “The Nutcracker.” The company has also said it expects to add more performances with the orchestra later this season and in future years, without providing further timing in the reported statement.
The immediate disagreement is therefore about the scope and scheduling of live orchestra use, rather than whether Atlanta Ballet says it will use musicians at all. The union is objecting to performances without a live orchestra, while the ballet says live music remains part of its plans for selected productions and future programming.
