Ticket sales for the Philadelphia Orchestra performances dropped 11 percent from the year before, in part because of rain and cancellations by two soloists.

By contrast, New York City Ballet, which also has a residency at SPAC, saw an increase in ticket sales this year. After losing about $1 million a year in previous seasons, NYCB lost $600,000 this summer.

In February, SPAC president Herbert Chesbrough announced that the ballet company's residencies would end this year. But after a public outcry, he reversed himself and committed to bringing back the company at least through 2005. Under fire for the move, Chesbrough has reportedly told board members that he wants to leave before his contract ends in 2006. But he did not say yesterday when he intended to depart.