DENVER—The struggling Colorado Symphony Orchestra is adding shorter concerts, traveling shows and video screens at its concerts to help reach out to new audiences.
The changes are part of a plan, called “Creating a 21st Century Orchestra,” aimed at keeping the symphony profitable. Next season’s lineup will still include traditional classical music performances at Boettcher Concert Hall, the orchestra’s home in Denver, but the symphony is also adding concerts by smaller chamber-music groups, quartets and quintets at community centers, churches and theaters in the suburbs.
The symphony will keep its unionized orchestra, but the musicians have agreed to changes allowing them to participate in the smaller shows, The Denver Post reported Friday (). Up to 20 percent of their time can be devoted to concerts outside of Boettcher.
“We don’t know how it will all pan out, but the musicians said, ‘Hey, we’ll go with the flow,'” said cellist Matt Switzer, who participated in the negotiations.
The symphony rejected the idea of switching to using all freelance musicians.
“Orchestras get better the same way football teams get better—by playing together,” CSO board chairman Jerome Kern said.
The symphony has been struggling financially and replaced its CEO in October. It canceled half of its scheduled fall concerts, and its musicians accepted a pay cut.
Orchestras around the country have tried similar changes that have met with resistance from existing supporters.
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Information from: The Denver Post,
