The news that the New York City Ballet’s 2013 residency at theSaratoga Performing Arts Center will be only one week long (five days, really, with seven performances) is a bit disconcerting -- but not surprising.

NYCB hasn’t done enough to reduce its own costs, and the cost to SPAC isn’t adequately covered by corporate sponsors or individual patrons. SPAC is spending about $2 million to bring the ballet to Saratoga, losing about $1.1 million in the process. That’s an expense SPAC cannot afford to sustain.

Who cares?

I do. You should, too.

The classical arts at SPAC are integral to the prestige and cachet of the entire Saratoga region. They help set SPAC apart from venues on the rock concert circuit.

SPAC’s leaders say they’ve been beating the bushes for sponsors. And they’ve certainly being trying to promote a night at SPAC to appeal to singles, couples and families.

I don’t know a tutu from a three-three. But I know enough to go see world-class dance and music when they come to SPAC. I sit on the lawn more often than in the amphitheater, and there is no better buy for twenty-two bucks ($15 for matinees). I can attest from my times inside that the experience is richer in the closer, semi-enclosed seats. In the theater or under the stars, the only mistake people make is not going, at least once – and bringing kids along (under 12 are free on the lawn; older students are just $10.)

My calendar is already marked for this year’s season, which starts Tuesday. Among the performances I hope to see is the Romeo + Juliet by Peter Martins. Hope to see you there.

I think I saw the conductor of the Philadelphia Orchestra -- of 2031 – at tonight’s performance at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center.

An exuberant boy in sneakers with flashing blue lights stationed himself on the walkway at the lower end of the lawn at the foot of the center screen. Inspired by Beethoven’s lively Symphony No. 7 in A major, the boy mimicked conductor Charles Dutoit, adding his own arm waves and body twirls.

He made my night, and I was already having a lovely night.

The boy’s family was only a few yards back. At the end of the concert, they all wandered off before I could catch up with them. I wanted to tell them how great it is to see people bringing kids to the orchestra. It baffles and saddens me that with free lawn admission for kids (and free ice cream courtesy of Stewart’s on “kids night”) more people don’t experience the richness of live orchestra (and before that, ballet). (You have until Aug. 13, folks.)

I arrived around 7:30 with my lawn chair, umbrella, tomato and mozzarella salad and bug spray. With the discount from my sustaining membership, I bought the least expensive inside seat ($31 reduced to $23) as “rain insurance” rather than the $20 lawn ticket. Turns out the clouds passed and I was able to stay the entire evening on the lawn, where I could see and hear the orchestra as well as the star-filled sky.

The star that drew me to SPAC this evening was on the stage: The gracious and talented Saratoga Springs native David Hyde Pierce narrated “The Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra,” a charming piece that literally introduces the listener to the four sections of the orchestra and the instruments within them.

In a pre-recorded interview on WNYT, he talked about how terrific it was “to a grow up in a small town with an incredible emphasis on the arts.”

I felt the same way at SPAC Thursday night, when my husband and I joined up with my neighbors, the Dart family, for “A Symphonic Night at the Movies.” The entire film “Casablanca” was shown on the six screens while the Philadelphia Orchestra performed the score – a very cool idea that drew plenty of people for inside and the lawn. The weather cooperated, too.

At tonight’s concert, SPAC President Marcia White said in her welcoming remarks that coming to SPAC as a child was a life-changer for David Hyde Pierce, who was a musician before becoming an actor.

Who knows, maybe it will turn out to be a life-changer for the little boy in the sneakers with the blinking blue lights.