I heard that on the radio a week ago, and double checked on its website, and yes.
This is only further acceleration of a trend that started even before COVID, but was massively accelerated by it: Increasing economic disparity within the classical music world.
Twenty years ago, on a six-pack season ticket package for its chorale terrace area, I could go to the Dallas Symphony Orchestra for $10 a concert. (The then-21 concert season came in three seven-part groupings, with one of each seven a chorale based concert that excluded chorale terrace seating.) Buy a second six-pack and it was $9 a concert within that. Buy a third and $8 a pop for that.
The $125 per month is $1,500 per year. If some literally tithed to charity and this was it, that would be a $15,000 annual income. More realistic? If they gave 2 percent to charity, and only here, that would be a $75K annual income. Donate 2 percent, and half to WRR, and you're at $150K, and in the DFW Metromess, not Austin, let alone one of the coasts.
Back to the current DSO.
Side note, first: Why are they playing full-length, or nearly so, concerts outside the Meyerson, and NOT a pops-type summer concert?
Now, the prices.
Cheapest promoted for new subscribers is $148 for four concerts. That's $37 a pop. And, you're not shown available seats until AFTER you buy, which was not the case 20 years ago. Actually a bit cheaper is $256 for eight, just $32.
Creating your own package of three or more is no cheaper? It looks cheaper, but the $4 per concert handling fees, waived on preset packages, is charged.
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