2012 conventions 2012 election 2013 session arts arts and culture author ballot measures basketball bomb books boy scouts budget bullying business charlie hales children clackamas climate change coal college courts crime culture culture club democrats drugs economy education environment family film fluoride food gay rights guns handguns health health care health insurance high school history housing immigration internet kitzhaber law legislature lgbt literary arts living marijuana marriage media medicine mental health military minor parties mohamed mohamud movies music native americans news newspaper obama olympics oregon our town parenting pers photography police politcs politics port portland portland business journal president prevention public safety religion republicans rnc romney rural salem sam adams sandy hook schools science shooting sports suicide supreme court taxes technology television terrorism theater third parties transportation union university of oregon washington wildfire women

I haven't been to a staged opera for more than 10 years -- since relocating to Portland from Northern California. I love opera and just about any theatre performance. It all comes down to the cost of seats and free time. I bought my first house a bit over 2 years ago and find that going to a show that costs more than $10 is virtually impossible thanks to the need to keep current on bills and house payments, already a huge struggle.

My first opera experience was grand opera in a San Francisco staging of Mussorgky's Kovanschina, followed by another of Don Giovanni. Kovanschina hooked me hugely! I also enjoyed smaller staged operas at Mendocino Music Festival performances in the 1980s.

So, just being able to get into local opera performances at fair prices with less competition for seats would really be great.

posted 4 years, 8 months ago
view in context