New York City Opera bankrupt, cancels funding

1 October 2013, 11:23 | Updated: 18 September 2014, 15:47

After an unsuccessful emergency appeal to raise $7 million, the New York City Opera has cancelled the remainder of its 2013-2014 season.

As well as appealing for offline donations of $6 million, the company set up an online Kickstarter campaign to raise $1 million. Online funding was cancelled this morning, falling short of the target by $698,981.

After receiving donations from supporters, the company raised sufficient funds to produce the US premiere Mark-Anthony Turnage's opera Anna Nicole, which ran from September 17-28. The curtain fell for the last time on Saturday night, marking the last performance in the company's 70-year history.

Posting on their fundraising page, they said: "It is with much regret that we announce the end of our fundraising campaign on Kickstarter and the cancellation of the 2013-2014 Season. New York City Opera did not achieve the goal of its emergency appeal, and the board and management will begin the necessary financial and operational steps to wind down the Company including initiating the Chapter 11 process."

This year's season was to include Endimione by J. C. Bach, Bluebeard's Castle by Bartók, and The Marriage of Figaro by Mozart. New York's Metropolitan Opera is now the sole operatic outlet in the city.