Milwaukee Ballet confirmed it will replace live music with recorded tracks for this season’s production of The Nutcracker, citing budgetary concerns. A spokesperson said the Milwaukee Ballet Orchestra will still perform for the season opening production of Giselle, while recordings will be used for The Nutcracker and ALICE (in wonderland).
“Like many of our peer organizations, we have worked diligently and creatively to address these challenges, yet operating costs continue to rise while revenue earnings have not kept pace,” the ballet said in a statement. “With other avenues exhausted, we have come to the difficult conclusion that we must utilize a recording rather than live accompaniment for The Nutcracker this season. This decision is not unprecedented, as several productions during the immediate post-pandemic years were performed without live accompaniment due to similar budgetary concerns.”
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The Milwaukee Musicians Association says the decision is a “crude and draconian” cut to the quality of its live performances.
“The Nutcracker is the first experience that many Wisconsinites have with both classical music and ballet. It would be a real profound disservice to our community for this meaningful cultural event to not be experienced as it was intended,” the association said. “Live music is the beating heart of productions like The Nutcracker, delivering an unmatched experience and elevating both performance and audience engagement. Recorded music, no matter how well-produced, cannot replicate the dynamic and spontaneous connection between live musicians and dancers, or the energy shared with audiences. This connection is essential to the compelling and evocative storytelling that patrons return for year after year.”
Milwaukee Ballet’s statement said that over the past several years, arts organizations in Milwaukee and around the country have struggled to navigate difficult financial challenges due to the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, and many of its fellow arts organizations have and continue to face these kinds of adjustments.
“However, this is still not a choice we make lightly and is one that saddens us greatly,” the Ballet said. It added that the Milwaukee Ballet Orchestra had been made aware of the decision, and members recently had the opportunity to attend an in-person meeting to provide Ballet leadership with feedback and assurance of a commitment to reviving the engagement. Donors and subscribers have also been notified of the change.
The Milwaukee Musicians Association emphasized that live music is also crucial to the livelihood of local musicians who have dedicated their careers to the arts and that the move away from live music is “the worst possible way for the company – or any performing arts institution – to save money.” It said it is urging the Milwaukee Ballet to consider both the long-term and short-term cultural and community impacts of its decision and to seek alternative solutions that “preserve the integrity and quality of their performances.”
“This is the wrong way to save a tiny percentage of the company’s overall budget,” the association said in its statement. “Collaboration and creativity are at the core of the arts and we remain open and eager to work with the ballet to find paths forward that allow live music to continue enriching Milwaukee’s cherished artistic heritage.”
The Milwaukee Ballet statement said, “It is all of our sincerest hope that this move is a short-term one and that we can reinstate live music for future productions of The Nutcracker. We assure our audiences that the artistry presented by our world-class dancers, alongside the top-tier production value of our exceptionally crafted sets, costumes and effects, will remain at the highest caliber.”
The Nutcracker drew nearly 4,800 attendees to three student matinees and more than 24,000 to its fifteen regular performances last holiday season. Ballet management said that the company remains “strong and resilient” despite current challenges.
“While certain operational elements may temporarily shift in order to sustain the organization, after 55 years bringing the joy of ballet to this city, our artists will continue dancing well into the future,” the statement said. “As we move forward, donors, subscribers, and other key constituents will be kept apprised of the work we are doing and how our efforts can be further supported.”
