Orchestra members are among many employees left unemployed by government restructuring of the state-owned television station, 1st Channel, which has reduced its staff from more than 2,200 to 500. Officials from the channel say the overhaul is necessary to transform the station into a true public television channel, the Messenger says.

Conductor Spartak Korkotashvili told the Messenger that he attributes the orchestra's closing to a "lack of awareness" of classical music among members of the government.