In Wednesday’s (8/25) Wall Street Journal, Erica Orden writes, “At 80 years old, Agnes Varis is trying to make opera audiences younger. … Ms. Varis, the founder and former president of several pharmaceutical companies, including Agvar Chemicals, Marsam Pharmaceuticals and Aegis Pharmaceuticals, is on a mission to build a younger audience for the Metropolitan Opera, where she is a trustee. … Toward that goal, she has donated $2.5 million to subsidize a program offering $25 orchestra tickets for all but two weekend performances of the company’s 2010-11 season—13,600 seats in all. The program, which the Met announced Tuesday, is an extension of the Agnes Varis and Karl Leichtman Rush Ticket program, started in 2006, which subsidizes 200 seats at $20 apiece for every weekday performance excluding galas. … After being offered the chance to claim various naming rights on joining the Met board, Ms. Varis opted for something she felt would have more of an impact.” Patrons will still wait in line for discounted weekday tickets, but $25 weekend tickets will be available through online lottery.
Posted August 26, 2010
