Austin Lyric Opera Director Makes Splash Over Subscriptions

"We take opera seriously...opera parties, not so much. Watch Austin Lyric Opera general director Joe Specter hold up his end of a challenge to the ALO Guild by jumping in the pool at their spring party. Huge thanks to Guild members for renewing their season tickets and meeting our goal! Find out more about our 2014-15 Season: Verdi's A Masked Ball, Gounod's Romeo & Juliet, and Mozart's Don Giovanni! http://www.AustinLyricOpera.org." [Source] Video of Mr. Specter jumping into the swimming pool is after the jump.

Are Domestic Opera Companies Beginning Their Final Descent?

How many are standing around watching the
collapse of opera houses across the United States?

Seems as though New York City Opera was the first company in the United States to really yell "Fire!" loud enough for people to start paying attention to their imminent collapse. Now other companies are following suit, beginning with Washington National Opera, San Francisco Opera and Austin Lyric Opera.