TAPED MUSIC AT NUREYEV SHOW PROTESTED BY UNION

Taped music was used at Rudolf Nureyev’s performance Friday at the Greek Theatre without permission from the local chapter of the American Federation of Musicians, causing the union Monday to declare the incident a “wholesale attack on the musician” and to demand more than $8,000 compensation from the Nederlander Organization, which operates the amphitheater.

“It’s a blatant violation of our contract,” said Bernie Flischer m president of Local 47. “Our collective-bargaining agreement with them (Nederlander) specifically prohibits using taped music without our permission.” The union is taking the unprecedented action of filing a grievance and requesting an arbitration to, Flischer said, “collect all monies due the musicians who would have worked.” He estimated that amount to be between $8,000 and $10,000 for about 55 musicians.

Flischer said the union has granted previous requests to use taped music, but it denied the most recent query because “the Nederlanders had abused the privilege in the past.”

Specifically, Flischer referred to the David Copperfield show at the Pantages in May. When a request was made to use taped music, the union agreed on the condition that three musicians would be hired to perform at some point in the magician’s performance.

According to Flischer, the show went on with taped music, but no musicians were hired. Therefore, when the Nederlander organization asked the union for permission to use recorded music for Nureyev’s performance, it refused, Flischer said.

“We want the world to know what they did,” Flischer said. “We need to review and reevaluate our entire relationship with the Nederlanders.”

Asked to comment, Nederlander vice president Stan Seiden referred all questions to the organization’s attorney, Noel Hatch.

Although he said he hadn’t seen the arbitration complaint, Hatch said, “I think they have a good faith obligation under the terms of the contract to use a reasonable standard in denying or acceding to requests for taped music.”

Referring to the David Copperfield incident, Hatch said a denial on the basis of “totally extraneous” reasons constituted a breach in the collective-bargaining contract; however, he said, Nederlander will not file a cross-complaint.