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August 9, 2002/Elul 1 5762, Vol. 54, No. 47
Israel Philharmonic tour canceled due to poor sales
PAULINE DUBKIN YEARWOOD
Chicago Jewish News
CHICAGO - This much is known: Michael Feinstein and the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra have postponed or canceled their eight-city U.S. summer tour.
What hasn't been so clear is the reason for the postponement.
An early report stated that the orchestra had to cancel the tour after it was unable to find an American security company willing to guard its 100 musicians.
Avi Shoshani, the orchestra's chief executive, reportedly told the Israeli newspaper Yediot Achronot that security companies told the orchestra's American agent, "We are unwilling to take the risk, because we are fearful of terrorist attacks."
However, Suzanne Ponsot, executive director of the American Friends of the Israeli Philharmonic Orchestra, stated that that report was false.
She said that Clear Channel Entertainment, the company that was responsible for promoting four out of the eight concert venues "felt that there was a need to cancel due to a poor response during this late summer period."
A spokesman for Clear Channel Entertainment's Chicago office said he didn't know why the tour was canceled. The company's New York headquarters could not be reached for comment.
Ponsot said that the widely reported reason for the cancellation could not have held up under scrutiny.
"The Israel Philharmonic Orchestra has its own private security, and they have a security consultant and security firm to handle whatever needs they have. Only one U.S. insurance company even expressed a doubt about additional insurance for the tour," she said.
Ponsot expressed regret over the cancellation or postponement. "It's been my experience that some concerts sell best in the last two weeks to 10 days beforehand," she said. "The tour was conceived as an opportunity to bring Israel's national orchestra to the United States at a time when Israel needs our support and enthusiasm."
Angela Duryea of Shuman Associates, a New York-based firm that represents the American Friends of the Israeli Philharmonic Orchestra, confirmed that the tour was postponed because of slow ticket sales.
An earlier press release from the American Friends states that "during its 67-year history, the Orchestra has fulfilled every one of its commitments, regardless of political climate or the venues where they are performing."
Pianist and vocalist Michael Feinstein is quoted as saying, "The music is timeless, and will always be there." The U.S. tour, which was scheduled to visit Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Cleveland, Columbus, Detroit, Denver and Seattle, was to have included selections from the new compact disc, "Michael Feinstein with the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra."
The orchestra will go ahead with scheduled summer tours in Australia and Taipei. Its next scheduled visit to the United States is in January 2003.
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