Seating for Concert Series

Sold-out events on a subscription basis are the ultimate and rarely achieved goal of any organization involved in presenting the arts. The Orange County Philharmonic Society has accomplished just that with its 1986-87 series of 12 concerts--our 33rd season and the first at the Orange County Performing Arts Center.

The elation we should feel is sobered, however, by the fact that we could not fill requests for nearly 1,500 tickets. We sincerely apologize for the length of time required to complete the seating process, which precluded earlier notification to all those we ultimately could not accommodate.

I would be happy to explain to anyone who wishes to call me the intricate and complex logistics involved in seating in a new facility. We do not apologize for the ticket priority to which we adhered: first, current Philharmonic subscribers, along with founders and major donors of the Center; second, new subscribers who are members of the Philharmonic Society, and lastly, new subscribers who are not members of the society. The fact that seats ran out before all orders could be filled is just that--a fact.

Contrary to what Barbara Szpiro informs the public (Letters, Oct. 12), we did not permit “wealthy donors” to reserve seats up until the last week in September. May 15 was the deadline for all priority orders.

To those new subscribers who could not obtain seats and feel the need to vent their frustration and anger, I must ask: Where were you all the years the Philharmonic Society presented concerts at various locations throughout the county?

It appears that a glamorous new hall has made serious music lovers out of a great many people almost overnight.

ERICH A. VOLLMER

Executive Director,

Orange County Philharmonic Society