Skip to main content

New York Philharmonic cancels ENTIRE season for the first time in its 178-year history and projects $30 million in lost ticket sales

The New York Philharmonic has cancelled an entire season for the first time in its 178-year history, as the coronavirus pandemic continues to take a heavy toll on the performing arts.

Philharmonic President Deborah Borda said Tuesday that cancellations caused by the coronavirus pandemic caused $10 million in ticket losses on its $87 million budget for 2019-20 and another $20 million in losses for 2020-21.

It comes as the latest blow to New York's cultural scene in what would normally be the thick of the fall arts season, leaving many city dwellers dreading a winter with few opportunities for a night on the town.

Last Friday, the Broadway League announced the 41 Broadway theaters will remain shut through at least May 30. The Metropolitan Opera, which initially hoped to reopen on December 31, called off its entire 2020-21 season on September 23. 

The New York Philharmonic has cancelled an entire season for the first time in its 178-year history. Pictured, Franz Welser-Most conducts one of the final performances in February

The New York Philharmonic has cancelled an entire season for the first time in its 178-year history. Pictured, Franz Welser-Most conducts one of the final performances in February

'Due to mandatory state and city government health regulations, the Philharmonic will not be able to resume live, indoor concerts in January as originally hoped,' said Borda, the Philharmonic president, in a letter to patrons.

'With deep regret, all previously scheduled concerts from January 6 to June 13, 2021, must now be cancelled.'

Borda said the orchestra exceed its fundraising goals, but that the lost ticket sales would still be devastating.

'No matter how well you do at fundraising, it cannot make up for those massive amounts of lost ticket revenue because we live on earned ticket revenue,' she said.

Orchestra musicians are receiving 75 percent of base pay, which comes to a weekly total of about $2,200, and some pay over scale has been restored.

The Philharmonic has not performed as a whole since March 10 and previously announced on June 10 that it had canceled the fall part of the 2020-21 season. 

The orchestra said then it hoped to resume January 6 but on Tuesday scrapped all concerts through June 13, 2021, due to the coronavirus. The orchestra has cut its staff in half, to about 70.

Borda said she hopes the full orchestra can resume performances next summer with performances in New York City parks and its residency in Vail, Colorado.

Franz Welser-Most leads the New York Philharmonic in the US premiere of Jorg Widmann's "Babylon Suite" at Lincoln Center's David Geffen Hall on Thursday night, February 27, 2020

Franz Welser-Most leads the New York Philharmonic in the US premiere of Jorg Widmann's 'Babylon Suite' at Lincoln Center's David Geffen Hall on Thursday night, February 27, 2020

The orchestra launched NY Phil Bandwagon socially distanced performances with its musicians throughout the city last August 28 and intends to resume in spring 2021. It also will expand its orchestra streaming series.

Tickets for the current Philharmonic season will be credited for 2021-22, or buyers may ask for refunds or donate the value.

The Philharmonic hopes to use the missed season to expedite the renovation of David Geffen Hall, which had been set to impact performances through February 2024. 

Scaffolding is up ahead of a $550 million renovation planned for Geffen Hall at Lincoln Center that will reduce capacity by more than 500 seats, eliminate two-thirds of the third tier, cut the orchestra from 43 rows to 33 and increase the auditorium floor rake. 

The Philharmonic hopes to use the missed season to expedite the renovation of David Geffen Hall (above) that had been set to impact performances through February 2024

The Philharmonic hopes to use the missed season to expedite the renovation of David Geffen Hall that had been set to impact performances through February 2024

The Philharmonic had planned to close the hall for construction from May to October in 2022, then again from May 2023 until February 2024.

'What we've been critically looking at is acceleration,' Borda said. 'This, obviously, makes a strong case to move that along. We will have an announcement about that and an update before the end of the year.'

Negotiations are continuing for a contract to replace the agreement with Local 802 of the American Federation of Musicians that expired Sept. 20.

'I feel very optimistic we´ll reach a mutually satisfaction satisfactory resolution,' Borda said.

Popular posts from this blog

Study Abroad USA, College of Charleston, Popular Courses, Alumni

Thinking for Study Abroad USA. School of Charleston, the wonderful grounds is situated in the actual middle of a verifiable city - Charleston. Get snatched up by the wonderful and customary engineering, beautiful pathways, or look at the advanced steel and glass building which houses the School of Business. The grounds additionally gives students simple admittance to a few major tech organizations like Amazon's CreateSpace, Google, TwitPic, and so on. The school offers students nearby as well as off-grounds convenience going from completely outfitted home lobbies to memorable homes. It is prepared to offer different types of assistance and facilities like clubs, associations, sporting exercises, support administrations, etc. To put it plainly, the school grounds is rising with energy and there will never be a dull second for students at the College of Charleston. Concentrate on Abroad USA is improving and remunerating for your future. The energetic grounds likewise houses various

Best MBA Online Colleges in the USA

“Opportunities never open, instead we create them for us”. Beginning with this amazing saying, let’s unbox today’s knowledge. Love Business and marketing? Want to make a high-paid career in business administration? Well, if yes, then mate, we have got you something amazing to do!   We all imagine an effortless future with a cozy house and a laptop. Well, well! You can make this happen. Today, with this guide, we will be exploring some of the top-notch online MBA universities and institutes in the USA. Let’s get started! Why learn Online MBA from the USA? Access to More Options This online era has given a second chance to children who want to reflect on their careers while managing their hectic schedules. In this, the internet has played a very crucial in rejuvenating schools, institutes, and colleges to give the best education to students across the globe. Graduating with Less Debt Regular classes from high reputed institutes often charge heavy tuition fees. However onl

Sickening moment maskless 'Karen' COUGHS in the face of grocery store customer, then claims she doesn't have to wear a mask because she 'isn't sick'

A woman was captured on camera following a customer through a supermarket as she coughs on her after claiming she does not need a mask because she is not sick.  Video of the incident, which has garnered hundreds of thousands of views on Twitter alone, allegedly took place in a Su per Saver in Lincoln, Nebraska according to Twitter user @davenewworld_2. In it, an unidentified woman was captured dramatically coughing as she smiles saying 'Excuse me! I'm coming through' in the direction of the customer recording her. Scroll down for video An unidentified woman was captured dramatically coughing as she smiles saying 'Excuse me! I'm coming through' in the direction of a woman recording her A woman was captured on camera following a customer as she coughs on her in a supermarket without a mask on claiming she does not need one because she is not sick @chaiteabugz #karen #covid #karens #karensgonewild #karensalert #masks we were just wearing a mask at the store. ¿ o