Relations between Orchestra London and its landlord at Cenntennial Hall have struck a sour note.
The operator of the city-owned theatre is going so far as to suggest the orchestra should be forced into bankruptcy and is calling on council to pull the plug on a $500,000 annual grant.
In a letter to city councillors, promoter Don Jones advises the $500,000 dollar grant should be withheld saying it would force the orchestra into bankruptcy and allow them to reform.
Jones says Hamilton's orchestra emerged after bankruptcy leaner and financially sound.
"I don't see anyway out of it because of their financials and when I look at Hamilton it has come back fine," he says.
But some are skeptical.
"I don't believe Mr. Jones is a financial professional," says Joe O'Neil, board chair for the orchestra.
O'Neil says its finances are on firm ground and "There is no need to take the very radical step of bankrupting the orchestra."
There have been suggestions that Centennial Hall may be facing its final curtain call because there are a pair of competing proposals, one by Orchestra London and one by the Grand Theatre, to build a new performing arts centre downtown.
That's not improving relations.
But what sparked the bad blood between Jones and Orchestra London's board is a Freedom of Information Act request seeking detailed information about lessees of Centennial Hall.
Jones says he is a private company and will not provide that information.
"I have a problem when it gets into personal contact information and so on that they want to compile a list for a new booklet for a performing arts centre, but look I'm a private corporation."
But O'Neil states "We need that information to do the business plan."
But even if that business plan ultimately moves forward, a new performing arts centre would still be years away, making Centennial Hall and Orchestra London ongoing, if not reluctant partners.
