Haffner Orchestra comes to defence of Natalia Luis-Bassa after she walks out on Huddersfield Philharmonic

Nov 24 2010 by Barry Gibson, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

AN orchestra spokeswoman has come to the defence of controversial conductor Natalia Luis-Bassa.

The Hade Edge woman walked out of rehearsals just hours before Huddersfield Philharmonic Orchestra was due to perform.

Ms Luis-Bassa quit after seven years with the amateur orchestra claiming constant clashes with some musicians was affecting her health.

Some orchestra members have claimed the professional conductor lacks the patience to work with amateur musicians.

But a member of Haffner Orchestra in Lancaster – which also employs Ms Luis-Bassa as a conductor – has come to her defence.

Yesterday Haffner spokeswoman Helen Beare said the musicians loved working with Ms Luis-Bassa.

“Natalia is in her seventh season as our conductor,” she said.

“Like Huddersfield Philharmonic, we are an amateur orchestra but our experience and opinion of Natalia has been extremely positive.

“She inspires us to play better and better, and to practise hard, without discouraging us. We find her patient, tolerant, friendly and loyal, and she has frequently diffused tricky situations without conflict.

“Members of our audience often comment on how much we appear to be enjoying ourselves when playing and how much we have improved under her baton.”