In Tuesday’s (9/20) Philadelphia Inquirer, Peter Dobrin writes, “Peter Nero and his orchestra [the Philly Pops] have agreed to split from the Philadelphia Orchestra Association, ending a six-year experiment … Under terms of the separation, the Pops will receive a $1.25 million settlement from the association to fund future operations. The association will continue to provide office space and some organizational support to the Pops through June. And the Pops—which was unsure whether it could continue operations apart from the association—can announce a season and begin selling tickets. Musicians and guest artists, on tenterhooks for months, have been informed that the concerts will go on, Nero said Monday. … Pops board president Frank Giordano said he was happy with the deal. ‘You always want more, but we can do very well with this,’ he said. ‘The Philly Pops will go on. It’s very sustainable.’ … The orchestra, which sought to split from the Pops well before its April Chapter 11 filing, folded the effort into its bankruptcy proceedings. … Orchestra president Allison B. Vulgamore declined to comment, but in a mass e-mail said the severance allowed the orchestra ‘to take an important step toward achieving long-term financial stability.’ ”
Posted September 20, 2011
