Opera Pacific is reaching a high note this year.
In the three years since Martin Hubbard took over as executive director, the opera company has become solvent again, increased subscribers and purchased a new home in Santa Ana.
Ticket sales, or revenue, have reached $2.4 million year-to-date with performances of “Der Rosenkavalier” and “Little Women” remaining on the calendar. Public support earmarked for the operating budget is projected to be $4.2 million this year. Last year, ticket sales were $2.7 million and public support was $3.3 million with another $900,000 toward the new building’s purchase.
This season’s subscriber base also is a new record with 6,220 signed up, compared with 5,912 in the 1999-2000 season. The 2000-2001 season was the first to offer subscribers a choice of Friday night performances.
Opera Pacific also eliminated its accumulated deficit last year.
Additionally, the company’s recent production of “Carmen” at the Orange County Performing Arts Center was its most financially successful, raising $962,046 for the six performances. “Carmen” broke the record set in 1995 by Opera Pacific’s production of “Madame Butterfly,” whose seven performances took in $940,310.
“Clearly we did the right thing in both adding the Friday night series and in adding a sixth performance for ‘Carmen,’ ” Hubbard said in a statement. “This demonstrates the market for great opera is strong in Orange County.”
Adding to its new stability, Opera Pacific was given a $5 million gift in June,the company’s largest single donation ever,from the Samueli Family Foundation, which is backed by Broadcom Corp. co-founder Henry Samueli.
