The renowned Philadelphia Orchestra has officially filed for bankruptcy protection after falling victim to plunging ticket sales and soaring overheads, according to court papers on April 17.
The filing followed a vote announced on April 16 by the board of directors, who say the move will allow the orchestra to maintain operations while restructuring and seeking help.
According to the court papers filed over the weekend, the orchestra has suffered falling ticket sales over the last four years as concertgoers age and younger people prove hard to attract.
Photo: Lin Ya-ti, Taipei Times
照片：台北時報林亞蒂
Amid nationwide economic instability, the organization has also had to confront rapidly rising pension costs for employees. The symphony wants to pull out from those contracts, but estimates that it would cost US$23 million (NT$668 million) to do so, according to the court papers.
For this year alone, the orchestra faces a US$14.5 million deficit, about a third of its US$46 million operating budget. Major donors likewise have withheld support from the organization until it can fix its finances.
Other orchestras have closed or sought bankruptcy protection during the US recession and weak recovery, but none have been as large or significant as the 111-year-old Philadelphia Orchestra.
Many of the documents filed were aimed at keeping the organization functioning. The orchestra sought protection from utility companies turning off the lights, and asked a judge for permission to keep paying salaries.
The orchestra promises to maintain its packed performance schedule and to modernize in a bid to attract new supporters.
Two related performing arts organizations, including the Philadelphia Academy of Music, also sought bankruptcy protection as part of the orchestra’s filing.
(AFP)
根據四月十七日的法院文件，享譽國際的費城管絃樂團，因成為票房賣座驟降與高漲營運支出的犧牲品，已正式聲請破產保護。
費城管絃樂團董事會四月十六日經過投票，決定聲請破產保護，他們認為這樣做可以讓樂團在整頓與尋求幫助的同時，還能維持營運。
根據這份週末聲請的法院文件，因為愛樂人士步入高齡與（樂團演出）不易吸引年輕人，樂團在四年前就開始蒙受票房銷售降低之苦。
根據這份法院文件，在全美陷入經濟動盪之際，這個組織也要面臨員工退休金快速高漲的成本。樂團雖想要撤銷那些合約，但估計這要花上兩千三百萬美元（約新台幣六億六千八百萬元）。
就今年而言，該團財政赤字達一千四百五十萬美元，占樂團四千六百萬美元營運預算的三分之一。主要的贊助者也停止對此組織的捐款直到它可以解決財務問題。
在美國經濟衰退與脆弱走出困局期間，不少樂團已關門大吉或是聲請破產保護，不過這些樂團都不如大型、重量級 ，且有一百一十一年歷史的費城管絃樂團。
聲請的文件多半是著眼於讓這個組織繼續運作。樂團尋求法院保護，免於遭受電力公司斷電的命運，並詢問一位法官允許繼續發放薪資。
此樂團誓言要維持它既定滿檔的演出，並且順應潮流使其現代化，以吸引新的支持者。
與費城交響樂團相關的兩家表演藝術團體，包括費城音樂學院，也在同一份聲請文件內尋求破產保護。
（法新社／翻譯：林亞蒂）
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