In Thursday’s (7/10) New York Times, Vivien Schweitzer writes that just before the start of last Wednesday’s New York Philharmonic concert at Prospect Park in Brooklyn, “Theodore Wiprud, the ensemble’s vice president for education, announced a new initiative, Philharmonic Free Fridays, in which 100 free tickets are to be distributed to listeners ages 13 to 26 for each of the 18 Friday evening subscription concerts in the 2014-15 season. The free tickets are part of Share the Music!, a new strategy for attracting a wider audience that also involves expanding the content on the orchestra’s website. Such an endeavor might be a more pragmatic way of recruiting younger audiences than the parks concerts, which, as enjoyable as they are, are limited by the challenges of amplifying orchestral music over a vast space.” Philharmonic Free Fridays are set to launch October 10, 2014 for the orchestra’s concert featuring the world premiere of Christopher Rouse’s Thunderstruck, as well as works by Haydn and Brahms. Share the Music! is supported by an anonymous donor, who has committed an additional $1 million in support if the orchestra raises $2 million by the end of 2014.
Posted July 14, 2014
