Ticket sales to arts events in Houston are up this season. Why? “Arts managers have done a lot right this year with programming, marketing, pricing and customer service. But the real reason the hard work is paying off is the city’s economy.” The oil business is thriving, and there’s a lot of cash floating around.
Tag: 09.11.07
Modest Ambitions For Atlanta’s New PAC
This weekend Atlanta’s new performing arts center opens. “With so many other performing arts venues already in Atlanta, the Cobb center has set itself a modest first-year goal of 85 performances. That means its seats will be empty more than three-quarters of the year, although it may still earn money from rehearsals and private events during part of that time.”
Coonductor Quits Orchestra After Newspaper Review
Zdenek Mácal has quit as conductor of the Czech Philharmonic after its September 8 concert. “He reportedly decided to quit because he was angry over a review in the Prague newspaper Lidové noviny the previous day.”
Network: FCC’s Bare Breast Rulling Is Censorship
“The U.S. penalty on CBS for televising singer Janet Jackson’s breast during the 2004 Super Bowl halftime show will effectively censor U.S. broadcasting if it is upheld, the network argued on Tuesday.”
Pavarotti Daughters Deny Feud
Luciano Pavarotti’s adult daughters complained Tuesday night about media reports claiming they are squabbling with the late tenor’s second wife.
Kennedy Center Honors Named
Comedian Steve Martin, singer Diana Ross, film director Martin Scorsese, Beach Boys founder Brian Wilson and pianist Leon Fleisher are this year’s honorees.
Harry Potter Series Becomes No. 1 Of All Time
“The five movies have taken $4.47bn (£2.2bn) around the world, surpassing the $4.44bn (£2.19bn) made by the spy franchise’s 22 outings to date. The six Star War films now sit in third place, with takings of $4.23bn (£2bn).”
Pittsburgh Symphony Trio Nears End
In 2005, the orchestra replaced outgoing director Mariss Jansons with three conductors. PSO president Larry Tamburri said the experiment “was really good for us. It gave us the opportunity to hear the orchestra in different ways.” But now it’s time to move on…
The Orchestra And The Hedge Fund Manager
“Small orchestras with modest budgets are proving to the classical-music world that the wealthiest donors don’t always belong to the big orchestras. They are borrowing fund-raising tactics from their larger competitors and successfully enticing managers of hedge funds, private equity firms and investment banks to donate millions of dollars.”
Utah Musicians Reject Orchestra Contract Offer
“In an emergency meeting Monday, Utah Symphony and Opera musicians voted 64-8 to reject what had been termed the ‘last, best and final’ contract offer from management, just four days before the orchestra’s first season concert on Friday.”