Not-So-Grand-Finale: Syracuse Symphony Collapses in Mid-Season

New York Attorney General Eric T. Schneidermansays he's looking into the collapse of theSyracuse Symphony Orchestra,which abruptly canceled the remainder of its 50th anniversary season last week, saying it had “run out of money.”

Schneiderman said the goal ofhisreview is to determine whether refunds can be made available to ticket-holders.

"If you pay for goods or services, by law, you should get what you paid for," said Schneiderman. "The Syracuse Symphony Orchestra left thousands of people holding tickets to performances they paid for but will never see."

It seems likely they'll never hear those performances either unless Schneiderman calls out the National Guard to round up the musicians for a command performance.

In a message on its website, the Syracuse Symphony said its board of trustees had voted to suspend operations and to cancel all remaining concerts, including a Yo-Yo Ma appearance scheduled for April 27.

“The SSO is unable to issue refunds for tickets because we have run out of money. The SSO is without sufficient funds to continue operations because it fell short of its March fundraising goal of $445,000, failed to receive $1.3 million in concessions sought from the musicians for the 2011-12 season and has $5.5 million in balance sheet liabilities,” the statement from interim executive director Paul Brooks said.

Brooks said the symphony has “come to the point where we are faced with no other choice but to suspend operations.”