Delos Diary

A lack of really riveting music-related gossip during the post-holiday period has been called to our attention, so we have been scanning the musical news flashes to find something interesting to report. Items from the media which specialize in classical music can be pretty depressing these days: orchestras running deficits, orchestras disbanding, record retailers going bankrupt, and on and on. Nevertheless, an occasional glimmer of hope appears.
An orchestra featured on the Delos label has just inaugurated an interesting experiment. The New Jersey Symphony Orchestra seems to be emulating the retail giants in its most recent pitch. From February 16 to 18, they had a half-price sale on all remaining season tickets in all categories of concerts from pop to classical. Tickets were available for a little as $7 and topped out at $39 for the best seats in the house.
Considering the caliber of this orchestra and its programs, this is a real bargain. These days when live shows hardly blink at chaging $100-plus for good seats, the New Jersey sale sounds very tempting. To sample New Jersey quality, try this recent Delos release.