RECORD-BREAKING RPO CONCERT WAS ‘JEWEL OF THE ROCHESTER ECLIPSE CELEBRATION’

Its 7349 tickets sold were the most for a single RPO performance in modern history.

“People lined up out the door, down the block, around the corner, up the street, and onto the bridge, for an evening of music and ballet. They came with their children, their hopes, and their good cheer, at the flick of the maestros’ batons, for the night of their lives. It was the jewel of the eclipse celebration.”

—Bob Lonsberry, talk-show host, WHAM-AM

ROCHESTER, NY – The Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra’s RPO Eclipse Spectacular: A Symphonic Celebration is one for the record books.

All tolled, 7349 tickets were sold for the eclipse-eve concert held April 7 at Blue Cross Arena. That’s the most for a single RPO performance in modern history.

But ticket sales only begin to tell the success story of RPO Eclipse Spectacular.

Last fall, after receiving a spark of the idea from Eclipse Force Chair Debra Ross, the creative brain trust of the concert, RPO Principal Pops Conductor Jeff Tyzik and Vice President of Artistic Planning and Operations James Barry, knew they were shooting for the moon with an epic proposal for the orchestra.

“This was in every way the largest undertaking in the history of the RPO,” Tyzik said.

Barry and Tyzik presented plans for an eclipse-themed program comprised of classical and contemporary sci-fi TV and film music, and Tyzik’s all-new 15-minute Eclipse Suite, with the RPO fronted by a rotation three of the orchestra’s conductors: RPO Music Director Andreas Delfs, Tyzik, and Assistant Conductor Jherrard Hardeman.

Add a big screen with all-new graphics and animation, a laser-light show, pyrotechnics, a wide array of guest performers – and a move from the 2300-seat home of the RPO, Kodak Hall, to a configuration of the Blue Cross Arena that would allow for nearly 7400 attendees.

Jay Advertising President and CEO Greg Smith was brought on as event co-producer.

As for the rest of the story?

Financially, logistically, and artistically, the concert was a big gamble that paid off.

“Our plan achieved everything we hoped for,” Tyzik said. “The amount of goodwill and public recognition this project achieved for our orchestra is immeasurable.”

Delfs sees the success of Eclipse Spectacular as “a powerful demonstration that the tides have turned for the RPO. We are done with hemming and hawing, and look to the future with confidence: a great team and a clear vision based on the belief that the orchestra’s survival hinges on ever-increasing community connectiveness as both music providers and collaborations with local arts groups.”

Delfs points with pride to the blockbuster success in January, with Kodak Hall near-capacity for both nights of Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring, which the RPO performed with the legendary locally based Garth Fagan Dance.

Similarly, “the Eclipse Spectacular concert celebrated the talent of Rochester,” Barry said, noting that most of the event’s special guest artists are local, including Madrigalia Festival Chorus, PUSH Physical Theatre, Rochester City Ballet, The RPO Eclipse Community Gospel Choir, Rochester Red Wings General Manager Dan Mason, and combat artist Alec Barbour.

“Rochester’s Animatus Studios created the opening animation of the total eclipse,” Barry continued. “Marc Webster of Blue on Blue Recording created all the video content presented on the LED wall, Audio Images delivered all production elements, and IATSE provided the labor to put the show up.”

“I’m so proud of the entire organization for pulling this off at such a high level,” said RPO President and CEO Curtis S. Long. “We also want to recognize the generous support of Finger Lakes Regional Economic Development Council and Wegmans, which helped make this project possible.”

So, if the moon and sun were to align again, would Long consider another RPO Spectacular?

“When the community celebrates, we want to be there,” Long said.