Last year’s inclement weather played a role in eventually ending the Drumheller Rotary Club hosted "Beethoven in the Badlands."
Billed as one of the most culturally significant events in Drumheller, on November 5, the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra (CPO) officially announced they have cancelled the event.
Billed as one of the most culturally significant events in Drumheller, on November 5, the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra (CPO) officially announced they have cancelled the event.
The event has enjoyed four year's of success, plus one really damp
one. The event, which appeared on the CPO 2009 concert schedule, forged
partnerships with a number of local and high profile sponsorships, and
attracted music lovers from the local area and the rest of the province
alike.
The 2008 edition of the show however came to a damp end before it even began. Rain, turning into more rain, thunder and lightning, forced the organizers to cancel the event at the last minute, and evacuate the Canadian Badlands Passion Play site.
In a release, Ann Lewis-Luppino, president and CEO of the CPO, said the weather was a factor, not just last year, but in previous seasons as well.
“'Beethoven in the Badlands' was a wonderful concert and we are very proud to have partnered with the Rotary Club of Drumheller to present it for five years. With the nature of any outdoor concert, we were dependent on the weather and over the last few seasons, it simply hasn’t worked in our favour. We gave it a good run, but ultimately, the bad weather became disappointing for our patrons and that, in the end, was the deciding factor.”
According to the release, the decision to cancel Beethoven in the Badlands was the result of lengthy consideration and discussion between the CPO and the Rotary. It stated the CPO has an obligation to the community it serves to make sound financial decisions that best serve the organization’s long-term success. The cancellation of Beethoven in the Badlands was a strategic move designed to ensure the organization’s future financial stability.
Jay Garbutt was the main organizer on the part of the Drumheller Rotary Club. He said the relationship between his organization and the CPO has remained positive throughout.
“It’s been a fantastic relationship,” says Garbutt. “While understandably we are disappointed to see the partnership come to a close, we believe we’ve made the best decision possible for both organizations. This concert series has been a jewel of the cultural mosaic of Drumheller. It will be missed.”
"I'd like to reiterate how much we valued the support from the business community. Local sponsorship helped make the event a success year in and year out."
For next season the CPO is planning a special performance at Medicine Hat’s Esplanade Theatre. Details of the show will be announced as the performance date approaches.
The 2008 edition of the show however came to a damp end before it even began. Rain, turning into more rain, thunder and lightning, forced the organizers to cancel the event at the last minute, and evacuate the Canadian Badlands Passion Play site.
In a release, Ann Lewis-Luppino, president and CEO of the CPO, said the weather was a factor, not just last year, but in previous seasons as well.
“'Beethoven in the Badlands' was a wonderful concert and we are very proud to have partnered with the Rotary Club of Drumheller to present it for five years. With the nature of any outdoor concert, we were dependent on the weather and over the last few seasons, it simply hasn’t worked in our favour. We gave it a good run, but ultimately, the bad weather became disappointing for our patrons and that, in the end, was the deciding factor.”
According to the release, the decision to cancel Beethoven in the Badlands was the result of lengthy consideration and discussion between the CPO and the Rotary. It stated the CPO has an obligation to the community it serves to make sound financial decisions that best serve the organization’s long-term success. The cancellation of Beethoven in the Badlands was a strategic move designed to ensure the organization’s future financial stability.
Jay Garbutt was the main organizer on the part of the Drumheller Rotary Club. He said the relationship between his organization and the CPO has remained positive throughout.
“It’s been a fantastic relationship,” says Garbutt. “While understandably we are disappointed to see the partnership come to a close, we believe we’ve made the best decision possible for both organizations. This concert series has been a jewel of the cultural mosaic of Drumheller. It will be missed.”
"I'd like to reiterate how much we valued the support from the business community. Local sponsorship helped make the event a success year in and year out."
For next season the CPO is planning a special performance at Medicine Hat’s Esplanade Theatre. Details of the show will be announced as the performance date approaches.