In Friday’s (11/27) News & Observer (Raleigh, North Carolina), Rob Christensen writes, “When officials with the financially strapped N.C. Symphony contacted renowned French pianist Pascal Rogé to inform him that they could no longer afford to bring him to Raleigh as a guest artist, they were stunned by his reply. Rogé said he would come to North Carolina to play free and that he would bring his pianist wife, Ami Rogé, to perform with him. As a result, Rogé will sandwich his paid performances in London, Singapore and Stuttgart and other stops on his world tour with unpaid concerts in Raleigh (Dec. 4 and 5) and Southern Pines (Dec. 3). … The symphony began contacting a number of guest artists and visiting conductors it had lined up for the 2009-2010 season to say it could no longer afford them. The N.C. Symphony, like many orchestras across the country, has been struggling during the recession as it has faced a sharp drop in contributions and season ticket subscriptions. The orchestra has taken steps to reduce costs, including cutting salaries, staging fewer pops concerts, canceling a European tour and dropping some elaborate pieces that required extra musicians and guest artists and conductors.”
Posted December 2, 2009
