“The American Symphony Orchestra, which is known for unusual, thematic programs that often include works that have fallen out of the repertory, will cut back on concerts next season,” writes Michael Cooper in Wednesday’s (3/11) New York Times. “The orchestra, which was founded in 1962 by Leopold Stokowski and has been led for more than two decades by Leon Botstein, the president of Bard College, will end its Classics Declassified series of concerts and lectures … and will reduce its main Carnegie Hall season to four concerts next season from six this season…. Botstein said he hoped the retrenchment would be temporary.… Lynne Meloccaro, the orchestra’s executive director, said that the ensemble had tried a couple of emergency fund-raising appeals and planned to open next year’s Carnegie season with a benefit featuring works by Nico Muhly, Gunther Schuller, Henri Dutilleux and Richard Strauss…. Botstein said that the main difficulty for the orchestra was the drop in individual giving, which supported its concerts in New York City. ‘This is hardly an anomalous story,’ he said…. ‘The real problem is that the very wealthy no longer consider it their civic responsibility to contribute to the traditions of the symphony orchestra. Their attentions have turned elsewhere.’ ”
Posted March 11, 2015
