By Barb Van Atta
Tri-Cities Opera has postponed its upcoming production of All is Calm: The Christmas Truce of 1914, which had been scheduled for Dec. 17 at the Opera Center, 315 Clinton St., Binghamton.
Last Friday (Nov. 17), Syracuse.com reported that TCO’s sister company, Syracuse Opera, has canceled the remainder of its 2023-24 season, which it was slated to present conjunction with TCO, and “is furloughing staff, citing waning audiences and financial uncertainty.”
UPDATE: John Rozzoni, who serves as general director of both companies, confirmed today (Nov. 21) that the remainder of the TCO 2023-2024 season (The Fantasticks and The Barber of Seville) will continue as planned. In Syracuse, those two productions have been canceled.
In an email to TCO supporters last week, Rozzoni wrote: “While our recent productions have been artistically excellent and impactful, ticket sales have been considerably lower than projected. In efforts to make sure we finish 2023 in the best financial position possible, we will be replacing All is Calm with a new project: OPERAtion Holiday Cheer: Carols in the Community.”
OPERAtion Holiday Cheer is a half-hour a cappella program of holiday carols performed by TCO’s resident artists. Rozzoni invited both public and private groups and locations to schedule an appearance Dec. 7-17 by emailing Cate Berger at bravofund@tricitiesopera.org. Public performances will be listed at tricitiesopera.com/holidaycheer.
If you already have tickets to All is Calm, the TCO box office will be contacting you and offering the following options:
- Convert your ticket purchase price into a tax-deductible donation. A thank-you letter will be sent for tax purposes.
- Transfer your tickets to next year’s holiday production (title, date and time TBD).
- Request a refund of your purchase price.
Ticket inquiries should be directed to Jay McMahon at tickets@tricitiesopera.org.
TCO was founded in 1949; Syracuse Opera was founded in 1974.
Syracuse Opera board chair Camille Tisdel said ticket sales are down 40-60 percent from where they were prior to the Covid-19 pandemic.
“We do not have the financial ability to continue the season,” Tisdel wrote. “Additionally, given the economic climate and uncertainty in our world, grant support, sponsorship and donations are all in jeopardy with no real promise of a return to pre-pandemic giving levels.”
Syracuse Opera has one full-time and four part-time employees that will be furloughed, Tisdel said. Ticketholders and subscribers will be contacted in the coming weeks about refunds.
“It’s a sad time,” Tisdel said.
