“In a new partnership, the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts will join Opera Philadelphia as a co-presenter of the O18 opera festival this fall,” writes Peter Dobrin in Thursday’s (8/9) Philadelphia Inquirer. “The deal gives the opera company a break on rental fees [at] the Perelman Theater. It also forgives the opera company’s remaining debt to the Kimmel for the last festival, O17. The total value … comes to about $350,000…. Opera Philadelphia sees the Kimmel contribution as a vote of confidence in the future of its new festival format, which it rolled out last season. The opera company is just at the beginning of raising $75 million for operating support and working capital for the entire company…. The new festival format was originally underwritten by $15 million in philanthropic support…. Now the company is raising the next block of funding…. The inaugural festival generated 150 digital and print reviews and 650 previews.” Kimmel Center President and CEO Anne Ewers says that the opera festival “really puts the spotlight on Philadelphia.” The Kimmel Center hosts performances by the Philadelphia Orchestra, Opera Philadelphia, Curtis Institute of Music, Philadanco, Philly Pops, Pennsylvania Ballet, Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia, and Philadelphia Chamber Music Society.
Posted August 15, 2018
