A disappointing performance of George Balanchine’s Raymonda Variations has Robert Gottlieb worrying about the condition of New York City Ballet. Part of the problem can be chalked up to simple exhaustion – after all, Nutcracker season only just ended. But still, it’s worth asking: “Are we witnessing the continuing erosion of the company’s classical style?”
Tag: 02.28.07
Levine Cuts Back Met Apperances
Conductor James Levine is sharply trimming his schedule with the Metropolitan Opera for the 2007-08 season, but insists that the cutback will be a one-time anomaly. “Other than 2005-6, when he tore a rotator cuff and missed the latter part of the season, next season will be Levine’s lightest Met workload since 1975-76.”
Baltimore Sym To Offer Deep Ticket Discounts
The Baltimore Symphony is rolling out an unprecedented ticket discount to promote Marin Alsop’s upcoming first season as music director. “Thanks to a $1 million underwriting grant from the PNC Foundation, current and new subscribers will be offered $25 seats for all classical and pops performances — any seat in the house, including the usually pricey boxes.”
Penumbra Cuts Season Short
The St. Paul-based Penumbra Theatre Company is cutting a play from its current season in an effort to keep its finances in balance. “Penumbra, considered one of the foremost African-American theater companies in the nation, has been laboring to keep its fiscal house in order.” Ambitious plans are still underway to present August Wilson’s history cycle beginning in the 2007-08 season.
Ticketing Shenanigans Angering Fans
In what may be a new trend in corporate cross-promotional synergy, large companies like Best Buy and Ameriquest are offering customers who subscribe to special promotional e-mails first crack at tickets to some of the hottest arena rock concerts of the season. “Typically, bands give their fan-club members a chance to buy tickets a few days before the general public.” But rewarding those who buy a new DVD player with early access to unrelated concert tickets has some fans steaming.