The Minnesota Orchestra’s ongoing labour troubles are  keeping them out of the recording studio.

The orchestra was  due to record the third and sixth symphonies by Jean Sibelius  in September under the baton of Music Director Osmo Vanska, a Finland native and world-renowned exponent of the composer’s music.

But officials from Sweden’s  BIS record label  say they are withdrawing from the September sessions because they no longer believe the orchestra is “in good-enough shape” to meet the exacting standards the label requires.

Both management and musicians in Minnesota say they stand ready to negotiate, but have not been able to agree on a framework for talks. Management locked out the musicians last October. 

The orchestra’s recording of the Sibelius second and fifth symphonies, released by BIS  in early 2012 received a Grammy nomination.