Symphony Opening Concerts Short of Standing Room Only : Music

The San Diego Symphony’s opening night concerts attracted huge, happy throngs--96% of Friday’s house and 81% on Saturday--but short of standing room only. Does the absence of SRO houses at the opening series say anything about San Diego’s desire for a symphony?

Not to Symphony Executive Director Wesley O. Brustad, who refused to read anything into the attendance figures.

“It was an opening,” he said. “There’s a certain euphoria to openings. I think we have to wait before we make any assumptions. It’s way too early. The proof’s going to be in slugging it out every week and seeing what we can attract. If we did four or five or six shows a year, that (attendance) would be normal. But when you’re playing week after week after week, then it gets a lot harder.”