Musicians may strike theaters

The specter of a possible musicians’ strike was hanging over London theaters Wednesday because of the threat to jobs from “virtual orchestras.”

Theater musicians held talks Tuesday evening with impresario Sir Cameron Mackintosh after learning of proposals to replace parts of the orchestra in his hit “Les Miserables” with a digital device when the show moves to a smaller theater. The machine allows one operator to control the instrumental output of a whole orchestra, using computers and keyboards.

“This is not what live theater is about -- it’s not what people pay for,” said a spokesman for the Musicians’ Union.

In a statement, Cameron Mackintosh Ltd. said the pit at the musical’s new home, London’s Queen’s Theatre, can house only 10 musicians and that it was seeking ways to use technology to deliver the best sound possible.