I just received a press release from the Oregon Symphony outlining improved ticket sales (up only slightly from last year, but with six fewer concerts (36 vs. 39) presented it represents greater attendance per concert). Read the complete release below.<\/p>\n
(PORTLAND, Ore.) \u00e2\u20ac\u201c The Oregon Symphony closed out the first half of its 2007-08 concert season this week amid signs its audience likes what it hears \u00e2\u20ac\u201c and is responding by buying more concert tickets.<\/font><\/p>\n
Oregon Symphony Association President Elaine Calder reported today that final box office figures for the orchestra\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s fall performances have shown a \u00e2\u20ac\u0153significant improvement\u00e2\u20ac\u009d over last season, even though the orchestra presented six fewer concerts than in the same period a year ago. <\/font><\/p>\n
All together, the orchestra presented 33 concerts between September and December 2007 and sold a total of 56,227 tickets. While that figure totaled only a handful more than the 56,158 tickets sold for the same period last season, last season\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s fall concert calendar included 39 performances. <\/font><\/p>\n
The bottom line: considerably larger crowds for each concert. So far this season crowds at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall in downtown Portland have averaged 1,704 each time the Oregon Symphony has performed, up more than 18 percent from a year ago. <\/font><\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153<\/font>We deliberately reduced the number of classical programs in the fall season this year and paced them to better meet audience needs,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Calder said. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Our improved schedule, together with some popular programming, enabled us to increase both our attendance and our revenues. And by reducing the number of concerts, we saved on expenses as well \u00e2\u20ac\u201c conservatively, at least $50,000 on hall labor and rental charges in the fall season alone.<\/font><\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153<\/font>Our musicians and our audiences are always happy when the Schnitz is full, and we\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re working to make that a regular occurrence. We\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re a long way from sold out at every concert, but we\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re very encouraged by the attendance this fall.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/font><\/p>\n
Ticket sales for the 33 concerts so far this season total $2,467,882, which is $259,000 higher than for last season’s 39 concerts and exceed the orchestra\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s internal goal by more than $35,000.<\/font><\/p>\n
Audience favorites have included the season-opening gala concert Sept. 22 featuring legendary pianist Van Cliburn, which played to a near-sellout crowd that filled the concert hall to 98 percent of its capacity, and the Oct. 17 concert celebrating the 90th<\/sup> birthday of Laureate Associate Conductor Norman Leyden, with a paid attendance at 96 percent of capacity.<\/font><\/p>\n
Other best-sellers included:<\/font><\/p>\n
\n
- \n
The \tthree recent performances of Gospel Christmas Dec. 7-9, at a \tcombined 74 percent of capacity; <\/font><\/p>\n<\/li>\n
- \n
The \topening classical series concert Sept. 29-Oct. 1, which featured \tpianist Valentina Lisitsa as soloist in a performance of \tRachmaninoff\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Second Piano Concerto, and the \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Inside \tthe Score\u00e2\u20ac\u009d series concert on Oct. 21 at which Music Director \tCarlos Kalmar led a performance of Dvorak\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s \u00e2\u20ac\u009dNew World\u00e2\u20ac\u009d \tSymphony, at 73 percent each;<\/font><\/p>\n<\/li>\n
- \n
The \tNov. 8 performance with Motown legend Smokey Robinson, at 69 \tpercent;<\/font><\/p>\n<\/li>\n
- \n
The \tthree classical series performances of Vivaldi\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Four Seasons \twith Finnish violinist Elina V\u00c3\u00a4h\u00c3\u00a4l\u00c3\u00a4, Dec. 1-3, at 67 \tpercent.<\/font><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Kalmar welcomed the news suggesting that the orchestra is showing signs of becoming a hotter ticket in town.<\/font><\/p>\n
“I appreciate very much that we have improved our support from the community,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d he said. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153This is being reflected in our growing ticket sales. Elaine and I are working constantly, together with our musicians and staff, to make the Oregon Symphony the most exciting arts organization in Portland and in Oregon.”<\/font><\/p>\n
Another 45 performances remain in the orchestra\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s 2007-08 season, which runs through May 19. Tickets are on sale now for all remaining concerts. <\/font><\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
###<\/font><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
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At the Oregon Symphony, we've just completed our third Classical series concerts. The Vancouver\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "music"","block_context":{"text":"music","link":"https:\/\/www.nobleviola.com\/wordpress\/category\/music\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":2950,"url":"https:\/\/www.nobleviola.com\/wordpress\/2009\/08\/05\/oregon-symphony-education-programs-not-dead\/","url_meta":{"origin":599,"position":1},"title":"oregon symphony: education programs not dead","author":"Charles Noble","date":"August 5, 2009","format":false,"excerpt":"In response to inquiries that resulted from David Stabler's article about the suspension of the OSO's widely lauded Community Music Partnership program, the symphony's development department released the following statement of clarification: To our Foundation and Government Supporters: Last week, this article ran in the Oregonian (see link to the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "education"","block_context":{"text":"education","link":"https:\/\/www.nobleviola.com\/wordpress\/category\/music\/education\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":2311,"url":"https:\/\/www.nobleviola.com\/wordpress\/2009\/04\/09\/a-few-more-carnegie-details\/","url_meta":{"origin":599,"position":2},"title":"a few more carnegie details","author":"Charles Noble","date":"April 9, 2009","format":false,"excerpt":"The OSO's press release: Apr. 9, 2009 BOUND FOR THE BIG APPLE: OREGON SYMPHONY WILL PLAY CARNEGIE HALL IN 2011 (PORTLAND, Ore.) - For the first time in its history, the Oregon Symphony will travel cross country in spring 2011 to perform a concert at music's most prestigious venue, Carnegie\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/www.nobleviola.com\/wordpress\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"carnegie hall stage entrance","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.nobleviola.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/06\/img_8304.thumbnail.JPG?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":6565,"url":"https:\/\/www.nobleviola.com\/wordpress\/2011\/06\/01\/concertmaster-jun-iwasaki-leaving-oregon-for-nashville-post\/","url_meta":{"origin":599,"position":3},"title":"concertmaster jun iwasaki leaving oregon for nashville post","author":"Charles Noble","date":"June 1, 2011","format":false,"excerpt":"Oregon Symphony concertmaster of four years Jun Iwasaki is leaving for a new post with the Nashville Symphony beginning with the 2011-2012 season. From the Nashville Symphony press release: Nashville Symphony has appointed Jun Iwasaki as the orchestra\u2019s new concertmaster. Currently concertmaster of the Oregon Symphony in Portland, he will\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "the orchestra world"","block_context":{"text":"the orchestra world","link":"https:\/\/www.nobleviola.com\/wordpress\/category\/music\/the-orchestra-world\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.nobleviola.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/Iwasaki2.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":495,"url":"https:\/\/www.nobleviola.com\/wordpress\/2007\/10\/17\/losing-ground\/","url_meta":{"origin":599,"position":4},"title":"losing ground?","author":"Charles Noble","date":"October 17, 2007","format":false,"excerpt":"David Stabler reports this morning that the Oregon Bach Festival will open its 2008 season by performing a concert (Bach's B-minor Mass) at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall in Portland.\u00c2\u00a0 What next?\u00c2\u00a0 Will the Eugene Symphony start a series in the Oregon Symphony's home hall?\u00c2\u00a0 The Seattle Symphony?\u00c2\u00a0 It's frustrating,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "the orchestra world"","block_context":{"text":"the orchestra world","link":"https:\/\/www.nobleviola.com\/wordpress\/category\/music\/the-orchestra-world\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":5862,"url":"https:\/\/www.nobleviola.com\/wordpress\/2011\/02\/23\/last-minute-substitute-for-oregon-symphony-concerts\/","url_meta":{"origin":599,"position":5},"title":"last minute substitute for oregon symphony concerts","author":"Charles Noble","date":"February 23, 2011","format":false,"excerpt":"Just got this news from the Oregon Symphony press office: Guest conductor Alondra de la Parra has been forced to withdraw\u00a0from the Oregon Symphony\u2019s \u201cThomas Lauderdale Plays Grieg\u201d Classical series\u00a0concerts Feb. 26-28 for personal reasons. Young British conductor Michael Francis \u2013\u00a0who is quickly earning a reputation as the man to\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "conducting"","block_context":{"text":"conducting","link":"https:\/\/www.nobleviola.com\/wordpress\/category\/music\/conducting\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.nobleviola.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/09\/AlondradelaParra1web-e1265005004666.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nobleviola.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/599","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nobleviola.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nobleviola.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nobleviola.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/303"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nobleviola.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=599"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.nobleviola.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/599\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nobleviola.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=599"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nobleviola.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=599"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nobleviola.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=599"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}