Field Report: The Buffalo Philharmonic

I've loved attending concerts of the BPO, RPO, and SSO during my time living in all three cities. These orchestras are great assets to Upstate NY and all inhabit beautiful halls. The RPO's hall is a fine example of 19th century public architecture, the BPO's Saarinen of mid-20th, and Syracuse's of 70s public architecture that hasn't yet made up its mind about Le Corbusier's planned cities.

Dear Henry,

I am very glad to read your positive report on the BPO. My music listening in Buffalo began in that hall in the 1940s and 50s, and my mother was very involved in the work that the Women's Committee did to support and market the orchestra.

Two wonderful BPO singular advantages: Its superb Saarinen-designed music hall (yes, perhaps now the main hall is too large...) and its ability to have attracted some of this country's leading conductors.

Yes, for too many decades Buffalo's economy has not been kind to the BPO, which makes your report all the more welcome.

I'm surprised that Ms. Falletta has yet to be invited to guest conduct the NYPhil, when those with lesser credentials have.

Interesting to think of hearing Mahler 5 at 10:30 a.m. That's not exactly what most people consider breakfast music! Still, a concert at that time of day and in that type of (less formal) venue does make a lot of sense, giving both older audience members (who often prefer daytime concerts) and students a convenient time to hear a concert. Also, presenting a 'real' concert for high school students rather than more traditional youth-oriented fare is a very good idea.

It's interesting that both the BP and the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, just an hour's drive down I90, have passed through hard times and both are now doing better, despite declining economies in both cities (Buffalo's much more tragic than Rochester's). It wasn't that long ago we were talking about some kind of merger of the three central/western NY orchestras, or radical down-sizings, and nervous questions about whether these communities still wanted orchestras. Here in Rochester, the RPO has also stabilized its finances and is rebuilding its artistic status. Henry, you've visited Syracuse recently. How're they doing? Anyway, this is heartening to we who search for ways to build new futures in the Rust Belt. Orchestras can be harbingers for the overall health of their communities.

Actually, I am scheduled to visit the Syracuse Symphony in December. My last trip to Syracuse was for a different purpose - but from what I hear, things are going well there as well. All three of those Central and Western New York orchestras (Syracuse, Rochester, and Buffalo) have been through ups and downs -- managing to demonstrate flexibility to deal with changing economic conditions, and changing state funding policies for the arts.

Henry Fogel