Skip to main content

New York Philharmonic cancels ENTIRE season for the first time in its 178-year history and projects $30 million in lost ticket sales

The New York Philharmonic has cancelled an entire season for the first time in its 178-year history, as the coronavirus pandemic continues to take a heavy toll on the performing arts.

Philharmonic President Deborah Borda said Tuesday that cancellations caused by the coronavirus pandemic caused $10 million in ticket losses on its $87 million budget for 2019-20 and another $20 million in losses for 2020-21.

It comes as the latest blow to New York's cultural scene in what would normally be the thick of the fall arts season, leaving many city dwellers dreading a winter with few opportunities for a night on the town.

Last Friday, the Broadway League announced the 41 Broadway theaters will remain shut through at least May 30. The Metropolitan Opera, which initially hoped to reopen on December 31, called off its entire 2020-21 season on September 23. 

The New York Philharmonic has cancelled an entire season for the first time in its 178-year history. Pictured, Franz Welser-Most conducts one of the final performances in February

The New York Philharmonic has cancelled an entire season for the first time in its 178-year history. Pictured, Franz Welser-Most conducts one of the final performances in February

'Due to mandatory state and city government health regulations, the Philharmonic will not be able to resume live, indoor concerts in January as originally hoped,' said Borda, the Philharmonic president, in a letter to patrons.

'With deep regret, all previously scheduled concerts from January 6 to June 13, 2021, must now be cancelled.'

Borda said the orchestra exceed its fundraising goals, but that the lost ticket sales would still be devastating.

'No matter how well you do at fundraising, it cannot make up for those massive amounts of lost ticket revenue because we live on earned ticket revenue,' she said.

Orchestra musicians are receiving 75 percent of base pay, which comes to a weekly total of about $2,200, and some pay over scale has been restored.

The Philharmonic has not performed as a whole since March 10 and previously announced on June 10 that it had canceled the fall part of the 2020-21 season. 

The orchestra said then it hoped to resume January 6 but on Tuesday scrapped all concerts through June 13, 2021, due to the coronavirus. The orchestra has cut its staff in half, to about 70.

Borda said she hopes the full orchestra can resume performances next summer with performances in New York City parks and its residency in Vail, Colorado.

Franz Welser-Most leads the New York Philharmonic in the US premiere of Jorg Widmann's "Babylon Suite" at Lincoln Center's David Geffen Hall on Thursday night, February 27, 2020

Franz Welser-Most leads the New York Philharmonic in the US premiere of Jorg Widmann's 'Babylon Suite' at Lincoln Center's David Geffen Hall on Thursday night, February 27, 2020

The orchestra launched NY Phil Bandwagon socially distanced performances with its musicians throughout the city last August 28 and intends to resume in spring 2021. It also will expand its orchestra streaming series.

Tickets for the current Philharmonic season will be credited for 2021-22, or buyers may ask for refunds or donate the value.

The Philharmonic hopes to use the missed season to expedite the renovation of David Geffen Hall, which had been set to impact performances through February 2024. 

Scaffolding is up ahead of a $550 million renovation planned for Geffen Hall at Lincoln Center that will reduce capacity by more than 500 seats, eliminate two-thirds of the third tier, cut the orchestra from 43 rows to 33 and increase the auditorium floor rake. 

The Philharmonic hopes to use the missed season to expedite the renovation of David Geffen Hall (above) that had been set to impact performances through February 2024

The Philharmonic hopes to use the missed season to expedite the renovation of David Geffen Hall that had been set to impact performances through February 2024

The Philharmonic had planned to close the hall for construction from May to October in 2022, then again from May 2023 until February 2024.

'What we've been critically looking at is acceleration,' Borda said. 'This, obviously, makes a strong case to move that along. We will have an announcement about that and an update before the end of the year.'

Negotiations are continuing for a contract to replace the agreement with Local 802 of the American Federation of Musicians that expired Sept. 20.

'I feel very optimistic we´ll reach a mutually satisfaction satisfactory resolution,' Borda said.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

EXCLUSIVE: From a $US13million mansion to a caravan: How the Australian wife of Il Divo singer has been 'forced' to live in a dodgy trailer park after a wildfire burned down their house during a bitter divorce battle

'Forced' into a 'mobile home park': Renee Izambard (nee Murphy) with her estranged husband, the suave Il Divo opera singer Sebastien Izambard An Il Divo opera singer's estranged Australian wife claims she was 'forced' to live in a caravan park after their $US12.95million Malibu mansion burned down in a wildfire days just after she filed for divorce.  Details of one-time Sydney Sony Music executive Renee Izambard's new life after her messy split with French tenor Sebastien Izambard were laid bare in a lawsuit filed with a Californian court this week. Ms Izambard (nee Murphy) is suing insurer State Farm, her estranged husband, an insurance agent and up to 20 others, over an allegedly 'inadequate' policy which covered the couple's destroyed former Malibu home.  Their five bedroom residence - described as a 'no expense spared ... oasis' - and its two guest houses went up in flames on November 8, 2018 during California's devastating Wo...

The HS2 money pit: Ministers are told first stage of high-speed rail line may cost another £800m... six months after a budget increase saw total costs soar by £20.6bn to £43billion

Ministers have been told that Phase One of controversial rail line HS2 could cost £800million more than planned. It comes just six months after a budget increase saw total predicted costs for the first stage of the high-speed line soar by £20.6billion to £43billion. In a written statement to Parliament, HS2 Minister Andrew Stephenson said half of this figure is due to preparation of the route for construction involving 'more significant challenges than anticipated'. This includes the need to remove more asbestos than expected. Another 'significant cost pressure' worth £400 million has also been identified during the development of designs for Euston station. Mr Stephenson warned that further investigation is being carried out which 'could identify further pressure'. Ministers have been told that Phase One of controversial rail line HS2 could cost £800million more than planned. Pictured: HS2 Minister Andrew Stephenson The HS2 route would initially link London and...

Tests may spare school bubbles from isolating: Children could avoid disruption to lessons by being screened for Covid more often under new proposal

Ministers will explore whether children could take more Covid tests instead of self-isolating to minimise disruption to their schooling. Sajid Javid said he was seeking ‘fresh advice’ on the current policy, which sees up to 250,000 pupils miss school every day. He revealed he would discuss the subject with Education Secretary Gavin Williamson after MPs expressed concerns about children being kept at home for ten days – even after a negative PCR test – because a member of their classroom bubble has been infected. It came as the Children’s Commissioner told how pupils had experienced ‘real trauma’ during successive lockdowns. Sajid Javid said he was seeking ‘fresh advice’ on the current policy where children self-isolate, which sees up to 250,000 pupils miss school every day Dame Rachel de Souza described the class bubble system as ‘very very restrictive’, adding: ‘I think everybody would like it if we could get back to normal, as soon as possible.’ Former health minister Steve Brine tol...