Orange County Opera Buzz

 It's been one year since the demise of Opera Pacific in Orange County, CA where they filed for bankruptcy with debts of $1.693 million and apparently only three benefactors giving 98% of the donations.  However, this LA Times article reports ways other companies and grass-roots supporters are trying to fill the void for the areas opera-goers. 

 

A new company, Long Beach Opera, which focuses on new and obscure works, hopes to attract Orange County audiences with "The Diary of Anne Frank" in May.  Another appeal to the Orange County audiences was considered by the LA Opera.  The article mentions packages to bus the opera-goers to the Dorothy Chandler and provide a meal.

 

While other companies try to take advantage of the gap left behind, a group has formed to consider a renewed effort to produce grand opera locally.  The ideas proposed by the local supporters are to include budget conscious planning, utilize electronic media to produce visual aspects of opera at lower cost and to focus on education programs.  These strategies might seem obvious for any arts organization that wants to be financially viable and relevant to their communities, but are actually in stark contrast to the "plan big, raise millions later" tactics at the late Opera Pacific. But before the new group sails a new ship into unsustainable waters, I really hope they look at whether Orange County needs a grand opera, with one of the top companies in the country (LA Opera) just 40 minutes away. 

 -- Leah

 

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/culturemonster/2009/11/hope-stirs-but-the-sounds-of-silence-linger-on-oc-opera-scene-since-opera-pacific-folded.html