News

September 12, 2006
For Immediate Release

Calgary Opera Records Eighth Consecutive Surplus, sees Artistic & Financial Growth

Calgary AB… On Monday, September 11, Calgary Opera held its annual general meeting where Chair Beverley Foy and General Director & CEO W.R. (Bob) McPhee announced that the 2005-2006 season was a year of artistic and financial success, with the company recording a surplus for the eighth consecutive year.

“The 2005-2006 season was an overwhelming success for our Company,” says Beverley Foy, Chair of the Calgary Opera Board of Directors. “Calgary Opera recorded a substantial surplus, and we experienced a large growth in revenue from ticket sales, and from special events and development. Many of the season’s performances sold-out as our audiences reached 94% capacity, and our operating budget climbed to just under $4 million.”

General Director & CEO W.R. (Bob) McPhee states: “The 2005-2006 season marked a triumphant return to the newly renovated Jubilee Auditorium with a successful Grand Homecoming Gala and a strong opera line-up highlighted the Canadian Premiere of Dead Man Walking. Continuing our focus on new works, workshops were underway for the upcoming world premiere of John Estacio’s and John Murrell’s Frobisher, and we also announced the company’s fourth commission, The Hannaraptor, a one act opera for young audiences by Allan Gilliland and Val Brandt. Calgary Opera is deeply committed to supporting and developing young Canadian artists, so we were very proud to announce the go ahead of the Emerging Artist Development Program, a transitional and bridging program for the amateur to the professional singer.”

Community outreach played an important part of the 2005-2006 season, as education programs such as Let’s Create an Opera and For Students Only Dress Rehearsals, as well as the Community Symposium in conjunction with Dead Man Walking helped reached a broad audience.

Calgary Opera also reported their new home, the Calgary Opera Centre has seen a flurry of activity as it has provided the city with a much-needed cultural space. The Calgary Opera Centre has become a hotbed of creativity as the space continues to be utilized by the Opera as well as numerous community groups and performing arts companies for rehearsal space, public performances, and events.

Subscriptions for the 2006-2007 Season are now on sale. Single event tickets go on sale to the public September 25. For more information call Calgary Opera at 262-7286.

For further information, please contact: Brian O'Neill, Calgary Opera 802-3409.