classical

Why no symphony orchestra in the world makes money

But no symphony orchestra in the world would be financially viable on its own.

That's the startling truth uncovered by Robert Flanagan, a professor of economics at Stanford University and the author of The Perilous Life of Symphony Orchestras.

"They all run an operating deficit, in the sense that the money they earn from concerts, records and so forth does not cover their expenses," he told The Money.

There are many reasons for this, but chief among them is that the expense of running an orchestra is enormous and virtually impossible to bring down.