Sunday (6/5) on the 11 Alive NBC News website (Atlanta), Bill Liss writes, “Tough economic times and changing priorities are signaling new directions for the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, now celebrating its 40th Anniversary and its 10th year under the musical direction of Robert Spano. The Atlanta Symphony is one of the nation’s greatest orchestras. They are now facing challenges in a new world dominated by social media and economic downturns. For the orchestra it’s a matter of establishing financial stability and taking its music beyond Symphony Hall. And for Stanley Romanstein, Atlanta Symphony President, that means trimming a $2.5 million deficit on a $47 million budget in two years. … Contributors are proving generous with the Symphony’s latest campaign—a $5 ‘When I Play Music’ contribution, which has been extended to the end of the summer. So far, 1,500 donors have kicked in $160,000. The goal for the campaign is $300,000 to bring music to some 40,000 Metro Atlanta youngsters. … Romanstein and [Music Director] Robert Spano both said they need to listen carefully to others to pick up signals of changing tastes and needs.”
Posted June 6, 2011
