Madison, Wisconsin’s new performing arts center is having trouble making ends meet, and has announced a wave of impending layoffs among its staff. “Management also is looking at programmatic cuts as part of an array of plans for putting the center on better fiscal footing.”
Tag: 11.20.08
Former City Opera Exec To Head Brooklyn Phil
“A refugee from the abortive Gerard Mortier era at New York City Opera has landed on her feet. Jane M. Gullong, the company’s former executive director, has been appointed president of the Brooklyn Philharmonic… Mortier eliminated Ms. Gullong’s position at the opera, where she had worked since 1994.”
Rochester Philharmonic To See Big Salary Gains
The economy may be in the tank, but the musicians of upstate New York’s Rochester Philharmonic have to be happy with the new contract they’ve just approved, which will give them a 14% salary bump over the next three seasons. “Ticket sales are 21 percent higher than expected for concerts so far [this year.] Additionally, there has been no decline in corporate giving.”
Yet Another Surplus In Toronto
“The Toronto Symphony Orchestra chalked up its third consecutive surplus last year, beating past box-office records and playing to 10,000 more people than in 2006-07… The orchestra ended the year with a modest surplus of just over $28,000, even though it spent $1.7-million more on concert production. Buoyant fundraising allowed the TSO to transfer $4-million to the the orchestra’s endowment fund.”
Changing The Culture Of Perpetual Crisis
“The Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony needs to come up with new ways to raise money rather than relying on ‘crisis fundraising,’ says the orchestra’s executive director… The history of the symphony has been one of crisis,” but leaders are hoping that a more systemic approach will enable to organization to address its problems without constantly seeming to be on the verge of bankruptcy.
EuroCulture Goes Digital, Immediately Crashes
“Europe’s heritage went digital Thursday when the European Union launched an online library putting famous works such as Dante’s “Divine Comedy” and Beethoven’s 9th Symphony just a mouse click away.” Naturally, the servers crashed shortly after launch, due to the 10 million people per hour attempting to access the service.
Union vs. Union At La Scala
La Scala’s gala opening is being threatened by a strike for the second year in a row, as the union representing the famed opera house’s choir and orchestra members balks at a new contract offer. But in a sign of how fractious such arrangements can be, all of La Scala’s other unions have already agreed to the deal, and are protesting the musicians’ union’s holdout.
What Is (And Isn’t) Michael Kaiser Doing To Save NY City Opera?
The arts world’s Mr. Turnaround, called in by board chair Susan Baker in the wake of the company’s dark season and the loss of Gérard Mortier as artistic director, isn’t taking the helm himself. “I’ve been asked by Susan and the board of the opera to help them write a plan for going forward. It’s very specific… If they asked me [to take over], I’d say no.”
Alberto Vilar Convicted Of Fraud And Money Laundering
“A federal jury convicted Alberto W. Vilar of all 12 counts in his securities fraud trial on Wednesday, a final fall from grace for a man who gave millions of dollars to musical and other causes but was ostracized for falling short on his pledges.”