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The Brampton Guardian
Low sales threatens future of Brampton Lyric Opera
The Brampton Guardian
Tuesday August 19 2008
By Ashley Goodfellow
 
BRAMPTON - Unless more sponsors or more spectators step up in support of Brampton Lyric Opera, the local opera company could be drawing its final curtain at the end of this season.

Emilio Fina, founder and artistic director of the professional non-profit opera company, said meager ticket sales is pushing the company into debt— one that could run the operation into the ground.

“Right now, we’re $15,000 in debt,” the tenor told The Guardian, noting that he and his soprano wife Jennifer Fina are carrying the financial burden of the company for the sake of their passion. “We can’t keep going like that.

“I feel like if we don’t get out of debt ... 100 per cent ... I don’t want to proceed with it,” he said.

BLO, which became incorporated in 2004, isn’t off to a good start for its fifth season.
Earlier this year Fina decided to pull the plug on 2008/2009 season opener, Cosi Fan Tutte, which was scheduled to run Nov. 22. After learning the Rose Theatre’s presentation of The Canadian Tenors was slated to run three days prior, it didn’t make sense to move forward with it.

“That’s direct competition,” he said. “So we cancelled it.”

And, just last week, he announced the cancellation of the third annual free outdoor concert which was set to run Aug. 20— but the decision to abandon this project was sparked by a feeling of defeat.

This year, BLO was only able to secure three performers alongside Fina and his wife to fill a two-hour performance slot. In past years there have been as many as 15, reported Fina. Pairing this with the costs associated to put on the concert, and considering the sparse ticket sales for the season, he felt the project wasn’t worth his time, or fair to the performers.

“When I see we only have 10 seats sold for the season, I don’t want to put anything on for free,” he said.

But despite the dismal outlook for BLO, Fina said he’s not ready to give up yet. He calculates that adding a second show to each production would reduce costs significantly; however, he recognizes he needs to look outside of Brampton for that support.

“I’ve lived most of my life in Brampton and it doesn’t look like the demographic for opera is there (for a second show),” he said. “But I sure hope I’m not going to be closing the doors in Brampton.”

Fina is committing to see the remainder of this season through, but hopes a new partnership will give the company the means produce a sixth season in Brampton. With recent news that Kitchener’s theatre Centre in the Square lost its in-house theatre company (Kitchener-Waterloo Opera), Fina saw an opportunity to fill a void.

“It makes perfect sense in (the Kitchener) area to do a second show,” he said. “This community was feeling a humongous void— the prior season there had over 1,000 subscribers to the opera.
“This is potentially going to save Brampton Lyric Opera,” he stated, noting the joint venture could cut operating costs in half.

Fina attributes the financial strain on a lack of growth— in audiences, supporters and sponsors. While he appreciates those who do support local opera, he  says it just isn’t enough to sustain an in-house company.

For details on Brampton Lyric Opera, visit www.bramptonlyricopera.ca.