I opened the first discussion in my last entry in how we can assist in moving the opera world forward in America, now, in our present economic condition. Today, I’d like to continue on the subject, posing a further question to you all and ask for your input and discourse. My first subject area dealt with opera being presented in English and IF it would have a positive affect on bringing new audiences and rejuvenated funding to the opera community. Today, I’d like to ponder something in a totally different realm.

Consider the opera industry in the United States 50 years ago. Americans were accustomed to many of the hallmark opera companies taking their singers, staff, productions, and the like on massive country wide tours. The Metropolitan Opera was famous for opera tours. Some of the famous recordings have come from the Metropolitan tours in other terrific US cities. Our beloved performers that all of us look up to for inspiration were a huge staple of the opera tours that bowed all over the states. Basically a troubadour mentality was in place for decades that lent itself to allowing many Americans the joy of seeing first hand super stars perform in wonderful productions with high acclaim without the hassle of having their own respective opera houses.

Today, opera tours from major opera companies are rare and regional opera theaters are far more prevalent in the American market than before. And Surely, opera tours still happen. The opera buffs can list the opera companies that still operate tours to other cities, more often outside of the United States. But the disappearance of opera tours from the major staple opera houses are less visible and apparent. Executive directors of some major theaters have claimed the high expense of transporting a full company of performers across the country. Certainly, this is a major concern as is stepping on the toes of many of our regional gems.

My broad question for you all is…can a rejuvenated tour system from some of the major opera houses to smaller but distinctive cities assist in bringing NEW participants to the table and is it financially viable in the LONG term? I question this discussion to you all for discussion in order to continue to search for the answers in a free marketplace of ideas. We seek to make our beloved art form more visible, more unique, and more prosperous day by day and this is a discussion, like many that must be had.