Art Talk has learned that the UW Choral Union (see photo at left) broke even at its concert two weekends ago with the UW Symphony Orchestra.

You may recall that the Choral Union, which performed Ralph Vaughan Williams "A Sea Symphony" (plus the same composer's orchestral work "Five Variants on 'Dive and Lazarus'") on Sunday night, May 4, in the Overture Center's Capitol Theater. Normally, the 160-voice group, which consists of campus and community singers, performs in campus in Mills Hall for two nights, usually a Saturday and a Sunday.

Using the Capitol Theater came to about $10,000 with rehearsal and other fees, according to UW choral director Beverly Taylor (see photo at below right), who led the joint concert.

That meant a break-even point came at about 750 tickets. And that's just about how many were sold, according to Taylor. (Tickets averaged about $15 -- $20 for adults, $10 for students and seniors.)

"So there will be very little, if anything to make up," said Taylor.

That's the good news because it means the adult members of the Choral Union won't have to act on their voluntary pledge to contribute up to $20 a person to make up the difference and subsidize their own performance.

The bad news is that breaking even means no surplus was made. Normally, the concerts make some money, Taylor said, and that money is used the following year to offset costs for importing soloists and renting a different venue. (Non-rental costs were also held down this year because the baritone soloist was UW professor Paul Rowe, and UW soloists can't get paid for their performance with a UW group, Taylor said. Also, guest soloist Janet Brown took a lower than usual fee, Taylor said.)

But that won't happen this year. Adding to troubles is the fact, Taylor said, that the UW Anonymous Fund, which often helps to pay for soloists and productions, has suddenly cut its support in half as tough economic times hit the UW.

What did you think of the Choral Union's performance?

And of it breaking even?

Do you think the Choral Union should perform in Mills Hall or the Capitol Theater or some other venue? (Next spring it will perform Benjamin Britten's "War Requiem" in Luther Memorial Church on University Avenue, and Taylor said the event may be tied to a showing of the film version of "All Quiet on the Western Front," since the text of the requiem comes from British poets who served in World War I.)

Do you think UW funding should be restored to this campus and community joint program?

What works would you most like to hear the UW Choral Union perform?