Musicians voted to approve the deal this weekend. It replaces a two-year contract that expired Sept. 5. It freezes wages the first two years, then increases them 2.4 percent in the third year.

It also will reduce the total number of CSO musicians to 95 this season and 92 in the 2005-06 season. But the reductions will come through attrition, not layoffs, CSO officials said Sunday night.

The deal will save the CSO about $1.5 million over three years.

"Even though all symphony orchestras in the U.S. are experiencing very difficult and trying economic times, this contract has the musicians agreeing to participate in the long-range course of setting the stage for the Board of Trustees to reinvigorate and even expand financial support," said Eugene Frey, president of the Cincinnati Musicians Association, in a prepared release.

CSO president Steven Monder said the reduction in musicians' positions was necessary, but called it "a means to an end."

"It's not striking at the core of the artistic product," he said.

Negotiations had been tough because of budget difficulties that caused a $1.8 million operating deficit the last two years combined. Orchestras all over the country faced similar budgets and contentious contract talks this fall.

Even though the CSO's deficit was wiped out by an anonymous donor, orchestra officials acknowledged the pressure this year to control costs and balance the budget.

Monder said he would soon bring to the board a plan to balance the symphony's budget over a three-year period.

---

E-mail cpeale@enquirer.com