Crowds held steady for Mann's orchestra season

During the season in which the Philadelphia Orchestra and Mann Center planned a summer program, parted ways, canceled artists already engaged, restored a certain number of concerts, and then restored some more, the orchestra's audience turned out in numbers that were pretty much the same as usual.

Attendance for the orchestra's performances in Fairmount Park averaged 3,982 listeners. On a per-concert basis, that's slightly higher than some years, slightly lower than others. But with only nine concerts - instead of the more typical 12 - the total dropped slightly, to 35,838.

"It was down 5 percent from last year, and considering the rain, we're not displeased with that at all," said Catherine M. Cahill, president and CEO of the Mann Center for the Performing Arts.

The summer's biggest draw was the Lang Lang-Herbie Hancock concert, with almost 6,800 passing through the gates. The smallest was a pure-orchestral program of Rimsky-Korsakov's Scheherazade and Strauss' Till Eulenspiegel played for an audience of 1,800, only half of whom actually paid to hear the concert.

In fact, of the total 35,838 attendees, only 15,160 paid for their tickets. The rest came through the Mann's free-ticket program for community groups, by way of the orchestra's Internet giveaway of lawn tickets, or other means.

The season was notable for its low number of big-name guest soloists and conductors. Curtis Institute of Music students were engaged as soloists for some concerts.

Though the Mann was opened in 1976 as a summer venue for the orchestra, the two are separate organizations. In a change from recent years, the orchestra and Mann adjusted their business relationship this summer so that the Mann presents the orchestra, taking the lion's share of the risk or reward.

In another change this summer, the Mann took the opportunity at Philadelphia Orchestra concerts to pass the hat. Listeners were asked to drop tens and twenties into buckets held by ushers.

"We can't afford to have someplace like this disappear," said local TV news anchor Pat Ciarrocchi in a public appeal at one concert. Mayor Nutter took the role of pitchman on another night. The practice yielded $20,000 in donations, says Cahill.

Despite the Perils of Pauline tone, the center, which also presents pop acts and other shows, expects to break even - at least for the fiscal year that ended in February.

"Our audit still is not complete," said Cahill, "but the signs are that we'll come close to break even."

Finances going forward, she said, are "challenging."

One of the things that would allow the Mann to efficiently plan next season, Cahill said, would be a new contract with the orchestra. A number of financial and artistic matters are likely to be negotiated.

"We have fiscal concerns for both parties, issues about scheduling, rehearsals, number of [musician] services, money, and mutual discussions about programming, direction and cooperation. We certainly hope for a multiple-year agreement to avoid any repeat of what happened this past spring."

Cahill was referring to the fact that the orchestra informed the Mann late in the game that it no longer intended to perform at the summer venue, then later said that it would, but would severely cut back the number of concerts.

Eventually, after a renegotiation of the business arrangement that resulted in the Mann's taking the financial risk for the orchestra's concerts, a total of nine programs was agreed upon.

"That threw some real confusion into the marketplace, and we were injured," said Cahill.

Looking ahead, she said, "We've got to be able to plan dates for next season. We need to start planning artistically so we can raise money for it appropriately."

The orchestra has signaled its willingness to begin talks at the conclusion of its August residency in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., she said.

The orchestra's summer traditionally has included time at the Mann, Saratoga Springs and, more recently, Vail, Colo. Other summer venues, both local and national, are being considered, according to orchestra interim leader Frank P. Slattery Jr.

Cahill, though, has a clear imperative in mind.

"The Mann is committed to being the premier summer home of the Philadelphia Orchestra. And we are a willing, open, and creative partner."