The musicians went on strike on May 9, after playing without a contract for nearly two years. The main points of disagreement between the two sides are work rules, which management feels must be changed if the orchestra is to tour and record. The musicians say that under the new rules, they would be working more consecutive days than Canadian labor law permits.

Tonight, musicians will peform at ê_glise St-Jean-Baptiste. William Henry Curry, resident conductor of the North Carolina Symphony, will conduct.

Beliveau said that his meeting last week with Lucien Bouchard, head of the orchestra's board, was encouraging. The musicians, he said, are eager to resume their jobs. "Going on strike was not something that we wanted to do," he said. "It's not something that we, as musicians, naturally have a tendency to do."