Boston offers free tickets to Trump’s unpaid workers

Boston offers free tickets to Trump’s unpaid workers

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norman lebrecht

January 16, 2019

From the Boston Symphony Orchestra:

We invite furloughed federal employees to join us as our guests on the following dates: January 17 – January 29. Each employee is eligible to receive a pair of tickets, based on availability, with the presentation of a valid government ID.

Available through SymphonyCharge (888.266.1200) and at the Symphony Hall Box Office. Offer not available for previous purchases. Discount valid for concerts listed only. Tickets will be held at the BSO Box Office. Must present a valid Government ID when picking up tickets.

 

Comments

  • The View from America says:

    In the past few days I’ve read that several other major U.S. orchestras are doing the same thing — Minnesota and Buffalo for example.

    • Marian says:

      Community ensembles, as well. I manage marketing for a community choir and if we had a concert coming up soon, I’d do the same thing. Let’s hope that this nonsense will be resolved before our May concert. :-/

  • nimitta says:

    Bravo, BSO!

  • Doug says:

    If they are indeed “Trump’s [sic]…Workers” then why do they not follow his orders? And lastly, what good is a ticket to attend a concert to someone who can’t pay the mortgage and feed their family? We know the answer to that: Leftist propaganda value in more clever lies.

    • V.Lind says:

      Who has opened the woodwork and let all the nasties out this morning? What do you suggest — that the BSO pays mortgages and grocery bills? Within their gift — at a cost to themselves — is a group of tickets.They can offer a few hours of pleasure to people who are going through a very tough time, should they opt to accept them — nobody is forcing them to go. I fail so see either leftist propaganda or clever lies in the gesture.

      And what exactly are Trump’s orders? And who is he to give any?

    • NYMike says:

      Doug has once more crawled out of the woodwork to voice his propaganda. What a bore!

  • Araragi says:

    People who get free tickets tend to value the performance less and, subsequently, talk more. I’d advise against free tickets. Had a nightmarish experience at Carnegie Hall once when I was seated next to a block of inner-city rats who were given free tickets in some apparent effort to promote the arts to the Great Unwashed. Bloody whisperers the lot of them.

    • V.Lind says:

      “Inner-city rats”? You are contemptible.

      • Patrick says:

        My guess is that Araragi prefers to be known as “deplorable”.

      • Ellingtonia says:

        I wonder if you would have been so virtuous if YOU had been sat next to them and they had spoiled the performance for you. Oh, to be sanctimonious and virtue signalling from afar!

        • V.Lind says:

          I was referring specifically, as my post should have made clear, to his detestable way of referring to other human beings, presumably young and probably not well-off. They were also probably in a very unfamiliar setting and not sure what was what; that they whispered actually showed some consideration for others while they tried to figure it out among themselves.

          Sure, I’m sorry his concert experience was disturbed. But he gave the impression he was contemptuous of these people as much because of who they were as because of their behaviour.

          • Araragi says:

            My contempt is actually more for Carnegie Hall, which was unable (or unwilling) to control those jerks. In my view, a concert hall has an obligation to provide a quiet venue fit for enjoying a concert. CH failed miserably that night in that obligation.

    • John Kelly says:

      ..presumably they came up from the subway where there are a LOT of them, the size of a small cat. Hopefully they were at least clothed. I’ve never heard rats whispering, they squeak. Musical snobbery is about as obnoxious as it gets.

    • Stuart says:

      Thank goodness classical music isn’t an elitist art form. Actually it is in a sad, steep decline, and appalling thinking such as this has been a partial contributor. “inner-city rats” and “great unwashed” actually written out for all to see. I actually think you believe this filth. You are your own nightmare.

    • Araragi says:

      Perhaps I should clarify that I would have no issue whatsoever sitting next to anyone who refrained from talking and practiced good hygiene. My condemnation is of their behavior, not their social or racial class.

    • Bruce says:

      Nobody cares what you think. Have a nice day 🙂

  • Andrew Collins says:

    The Baltimore Symphony had free tickets for federal workers last weekend. Messaien’s Turangalila for all!

  • Cantantelirico says:

    The Metropolitan Opera has ton of wallpaper they can give away.

  • Barbara says:

    oh not this old chestnut again that people don’t value anything that is free. I don’t agree and I don’t like the patronising tone of Araragi.

  • Bill Gross says:

    It takes two to Tango. The headline, while satisfying to some, ignores that basic fact of the current situation in DC.

    • nimitta says:

      Actually, your post ignores the “basic fact” of the current situation, Bill: the Republican-controlled Congress presented President Trump with a bill before Christmas to avert the shutdown and enhance border security. Trump publicly stated that he would sign it. Then the far-right media trolls came scurrying out of the woodwork – Ann Coulter & Rush Limbaugh, most hyperbolically – to protest Trump’s decision and stoke needless fear. So, Trump abruptly reversed himself, leaving his party, the government, and now all Americans in the lurch. Think homeland security, airports, food inspection, highway safety, national parks…the list goes on.

      Another basic fact: Trump has framed the shutdown as 100% about funding the border wall, but he promised all along that Mexico would pay for it. He knew very well that it was a preposterous lie, but saw that it galvanized his rallies and would garner support from uninformed voters.

      You’re right, Bill: it does take two to tango, but this isn’t a ballroom dance anymore, like the earlier legislation was. Now it’s a unilateral power play for which the president publicly took total credit – “yes, Chuck, I won’t blame you [a lie] – it will be my shutdown” – on behalf of an imaginary wall that, according to engineers’ estimates, would be the single costliest boondoggle in US history, yet would be just as ineffective as current sections of border wall, which can be climbed, tunneled, or cut.

      • Petros Linardos says:

        Not to mention that a supermajority in Congress could pass a new bill to reopen the government, whether Trump liked it or not. Guess who doesn’t want to move that direction? Hint: it’s not Nancy Pelosi.

    • Bruce says:

      Actually the “takes two to tango” comment is irrelevant to this situation. As far as I’m aware, orchestras are not publicly placing blame anywhere for the shutdown (and if they did it wouldn’t matter any more than your opinion does, or mine) — they’re just offering free tickets to those affected by it.

      And if you’re expecting accuracy of detail from NL’s headlines, well… you must be new here 🙂

  • Guest says:

    There is nothing worse than sitting close to people who don’t value the music, check their phone every 10 seconds, and whisper the whole concert. People who don’t value classical music generally engage in at least one of those activities and it drives concert-regulars out the door. Gaining a temporary audience to lose a genuine one is not the way to go, IMO.

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