COUNTY FUNDING CRISIS FORCES CONSOLIDATION
OF FIVE BPO PERFORMANCES

The ongoing uncertainties created by the county budget crisis have forced the Buffalo Philharmonic to consolidate five performances into the remaining 29 events in this season, leave key staff positions open and continue a vigorous effort of expense reduction targeting all expenses not related to the quality of the artistic product.

"Aggressive cost controls have been in place for the entire season," said Ange Fatta, chairman of the BPO Board of Trustees. "We had closed our financial gap to less than $300,000. But the loss of the $710,000 anticipated from the county and ongoing questions about how much, if any, money we will eventually receive forces hard business decisions."

Fatta stressed that the BPO already had a long-term business strategy in place to reduce expenses by between $1.5 to $2.5 million over the next five years. "This community has wisely invested in the the BPO for more than 70 years. We recognize our obligation to be careful stewards of that investment," he said. "We're doing all we can and now look to the community for the support we need at this critical juncture."

The announcement comes on the heels of a season of artistic accomplishment which has garnered international attention for the organization long referred to as "Western New York's cultural ambassador." A live CD recording of the BPO's summer 2004 Carnegie Hall concert was released last week. CD sales, concert tickets and other ways to support the orchestra are availble online at www.bpo.org.

Ticket holders for the Friday night performances of Classic Beethoven (March 4), Romantic Bruckner (March 18) and A Midsummers Night's Dream (April 29) will be offered exchanges for Saturday and/or Sunday performances of the same shows. Those with tickets for the April 1 Regina Carter and June 12 Jimmy Bosch concerts will be offered a variety of other performances including Big Bad VooDoo Daddy, John Pizzarelli's Harold Arlen Tribute and Audra MacDonald.

Tickets are still available for this weekend's performances by jazz artists Yellowjackets (Friday at 8 p.m.) and the family show Cirque Symphonique (Sunday at 2 p.m.) at the Kleinhans Box Office or by calling 885-5000.