Will Seattle Opera balance books? It's too close to call

By Melinda Bargreen
Seattle Times music critic

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At the annual meeting, held at Seattle Opera's new home in McCaw Hall with Chairman William Gerberding and President John Nesholm presiding, company trustees and opera supporters heard that the fiscal year's finances are still too close to call.

Administrative director Kelly Tweeddale, however, expressed "cautious optimism" that the company will balance its books for the 12th consecutive year.

The company's season-end statement calls this "the toughest season financially for Seattle Opera in a decade." This despite the artistic success of the first season in the acclaimed McCaw Hall, and several sales records set by ticket purchasers. The 116,000 people who attended productions represented all 50 states and more than 20 foreign countries.

The 2003-04 budget was not, however, the largest in company history; that distinction goes to 2001-02, a season in which the company presented the expensive, four-opera Wagnerian "Ring."

During 2003-04, Seattle Opera still fell short of its goals in ticket sales and in contributed income (for annual gifts under $1,000, an area where contributions have usually proved strong), as well as in interest income. Operational expenses in the new hall, a circumstance notoriously difficult to predict in advance, also were greater than expected.

Company general director Speight Jenkins, who celebrated 20 seasons at the helm of Seattle Opera this year, announced the two Artists of the Year: singer Stephen Milling (who portrayed Gurnemanz in last summer's "Parsifal"), and director Chris Alexander (who staged the recent "Ariadne Auf Naxos").

After the end of the 2004-05 season, Nesholm, the president for the past six seasons, will be succeeded by president-elect Stephen Phelps.

The city of Seattle, Seattle City Council and Seattle Center director Virginia Anderson were recognized at the meeting for their roles in funding and building McCaw Hall.

Copyright © 2004 The Seattle Times Company

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