Philharmonic Program Cut, Salaries Frozen : Finances: The executive director of the Orange County organization cites ‘considerable’ financial problems. Other austerity measures are being considered.

“Considerable” financial problems have forced the Orange County Philharmonic Society to cancel a major three-day program of six Tchaikovsky symphonies, to freeze salaries and to begin considering other austerity measures, including layoffs, an official said Monday.

Canceling the Tchaikovsky concerts, which were to have been presented at the Orange County Performing Arts Center Oct. 4 through 6, “was the only fiscally responsible thing to do,” OCPS executive director Erich Vollmer said. “We are posting a considerable deficit for the year that ended in June, and the prospects are not looking bright either for fund-raising or subscriptions for next year.”

Vollmer said the deficit is “going to be six figures.” He would “not even give a guess at this point” of the exact amount, but he said a preliminary figure will be announced Monday at the organization’s annual meeting. An audit is to be completed next month.

Meanwhile, he said, only 312 subscriptions and $15,000 worth of single tickets have been sold for the program of Tchaikovsky’s Symphonies 1 through 6, to have been played by Pavel Kogan and the Moscow State Symphony in their only West Coast appearance of the season. The program had been budgeted at $175,000.

“It is early to cancel,” Vollmer acknowledged, “but to wait and take the same action in August or September would have been impossible because we would be so far committed to the project as far as the orchestra is concerned.”

Vollmer said that because advance sales have been stronger for the rest of the OCPS concerts next season, he is optimistic that they can go on as scheduled. Still, a salary freeze has gone into effect, and Vollmer said he is thinking about consolidating some part-time positions and eliminating at least one full-time position. He would not elaborate on that, however.

Those with tickets for the Tchaikovsky concerts can get credit toward the purchase of other OCPS concerts or get their money back, Vollmer said.