In Wednesday’s (4/8) Philadelphia Inquirer, Peter Dobrin writes, “The Mann Center, built in 1976 as a summer venue for the Philadelphia Orchestra, has received notice that the orchestra will perform a mere five concerts there this season—the smallest number as far back as the orchestra can trace. Three are the traditional paid concerts, one is a free community performance, and the last, also free, is a neighborhood concert of the sort the orchestra has programmed since 2000, its centennial year. … The impetus for the reduction—from last season’s nine—is the financial condition of the orchestra, said executive director and chief executive officer Frank P. Slattery Jr. The orchestra presents itself at the Mann, so it takes the financial risk there. … An orchestra spokeswoman said the Mann reduction would cut $200,000 from the budget. … Mann Center for the Performing Arts president and CEO Catherine M. Cahill said the orchestra’s cuts presented a financial challenge, since replacement concerts are presented by the Mann and therefore it shoulders the risk.”
Posted April 9, 2009
