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The Florida Orchestra officially cancels remainder of the season
It was nice to think about as a possibility, but The Florida Orchestra isn’t going to resume its concert schedule on May 10, as had been announced early in the Covid-19 pandemic.
The remainder of Season 51 has been officially canceled, president and CEO Mark Cantrell announced Monday. “This decision is not what anybody wanted,” he said, “but it’s clear this step is necessary for the safety of everyone.”
These performances have been canceled, most at TFO’s main venues: the Straz Center in Tampa, the Mahaffey Theater in St. Petersburg and Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater:
April 22-23: Once Upon a Concert Coffee concert
April 24: Livin’ Thing: The Music of The Electric Light Orchestra Rock concert
April 25-26: Prohibition Raymond James Pops concert
May 1-3: Beethoven’s Fifth: Darkness to Light Masterworks concert
May 3: Woodson Chamber Series: Cello and Piano Duo
May 7: Made in America Coffee concert
May 9-10: Free Pops in the Park concerts at Coachman Park in Clearwater and Julian B. Lane Riverfront Park in Tampa
May 13: Free Happy Hour Concert at Armature Works
May 14: From Russia with Love Coffee concert
May 15-16: Superhero Soundtracks Pops concert
May 22-24: Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 4 Masterworks concert
May 30-31: Play Me a Story Family Concerts
The board of directors voted to pay musician salaries through the end of the scheduled season; although refunds are available, TFO is asking that ticket-holders keep their tickets, thereby donating the cost – as opposed to requesting refunds, since ticket revenue accounts for approximately 40 percent of the group’s annual operating budget.
More information about that here.
Last week, music director Michael Francis was waxing positive about saving some of the spring concerts. “We’re still hoping, of course optimistically, that we might get something in at the end of the season,” Francis said on The Catalyst Sessions April 14.
“Our season finishes around May 31st, so in some ways it’s a little easier for us than it is for orchestras who go 52 weeks, but it’s still, above all, heartbreaking that we can’t bring this wonderful music.”
Currently, the 2020-21 season is scheduled to begin Oct. 2 with a performance of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony.
