A new Australian government report recommends reducing the number of musicians in the country’s major orchestras. The author of the report “doesn’t like to call them ‘player cuts’. He refers to ‘a reduction in the permanent establishment’ of the Queensland Orchestra (from 89 to 74 musicians), Adelaide Symphony Orchestra (from 74 to 56) and Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra (from 47 to 38, or a large chamber orchestra). ‘Any suggestion there be less players [will be] met with some emotion. But we’ve tried to be realistic and look at long-term viability’.”