Amidst the nebulous financial situation plaguing many US orchestras, BBC’s Matt Wells visited the Boston Symphony Orchestra at Tanglewood to consult both players and administration alike.

The BSO’s managing director, Mark Volpe, indicated that although the orchestra is doing comparatively well, they are still subject to the fiscal erosion straining orchestras nationwide.

“We had to cut $4 million out of our budget,” he said, “to suggest we’re immune is actually not accurate.” He noted that their stable audience and sponsorship base will allow the organization to weather a downturn that some institutions are finding unrecoverable.

One way they have curbed expenditure is through substitutes. While the ensemble admits the culture of the orchestra may be affected by having temporary performers in the group, it allows the orchestra to avoid filling salaried positions while maintaining the overall quality of the music.

For the complete podcast check out the BBC site here.

Posted on August 24th, 2010 at 10:20 pm | Filed under Articles of Interest |