While You Were Out

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Over the weekend:

- The Metropolitan Opera is now facing a "disaster scenario" brought on by a diminishing donations, slow ticket sales and a endowment that has lost a third of its value.

- Los Angeles Opera has announced its 2009-2010 season and they are moving forward with their Ring. Casting is strong. Let us hope they can weather this economic storm.
- Welsh National Opera announced their 2009-2010 season as well. Of note is Bryn Terfel making the role debut of Hans Sachs in Wagners' Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg.

- Across the country, Washington National Opera announced their season with The Marriage of Figaro standing in for a postponed Ring Cycle.

- Berlin has appointed Peter Raddatzas director of the city’s Opera Foundation that oversees 3 companies, a ballet company and a set/design company.

- The Australian Herald's Arts Editor has documented his experience as a supernumerary in Opera Australia's production of Cavalleria rusticana. If you are an Arts Editor of a local paper, and you are reading this, please expect a phone call from me soon.

- Florida Grand Opera has announced that they are reducing their season from five operas to four, an incredibly intelligent and proactive move. The economy is the culprit again.

- Dallas Morning News has more on George Steel's post to NYCO.

-- Edward

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