CINCINNATI OPERA January 2010 update
Louise Dieterle Nippert Musical Arts Fund In December 2009, Louise Nippert gave a record-setting gift of $85 million to establish the new Louise Dieterle Nippert Musical Arts Fund, intended to support classical music of the highest quality in Greater Cincinnati. 75% of the Fund’s distributions are designated for the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra (CSO) and will provide it with approximately $3 million in annual support. 12% is designated for Cincinnati Opera, providing approximately $500,000 Louise Dieterle Nippert, who established an $85 million fund to support classical annually, and 5% is for Cincinnati music in Greater Cincinnati Ballet, providing approximately $200,000 annually. Another 8% will support other professional musical arts institutions. The annual allocation received by Cincinnati Opera will support the CSO’s continued status as the Opera’s resident orchestra. This gift does not erase the Opera’s ongoing need for donor support, but it does offer a significant measure of financial stability, allowing the company to sustain the level of artistic quality our patrons have come to enjoy and expect.
Cincinnati Opera and the Economy During 2009, Cincinnati Opera took a number of steps to reduce costs and find efficiencies without sacrificing artistic quality. Among the actions taken were reductions to staff salaries and benefits, fewer performances, and trimmed production expenses. Due to these measures and extraordinary patron and donor support, we ended the 2009 fiscal year with our 20th consecutive balanced budget. As we approach our 90th anniversary season this summer, we are excited to undertake one of our most ambitious seasons to date. However, due to the economic downturn, we have lost more than $750,000 in long-term support due to reductions in corporate, foundation, government, and investment income. The fundraising challenges continue to be great, but we remain steadfastly committed to fiscal responsibility and are grateful to you, our donors and patrons, for your continued support.
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Administrative Office: (513) 768-5500 Box Office: (513) 241-2742 www.cincinnatiopera.org
A long overdue renovation of Music Hall is scheduled to begin in spring 2011, promising enhanced patron amenities, improved seating, and more efficient backstage operations.
Q&A about music hall 1. What’s this about renovating Music Hall? It has been almost a half-century since Music Hall’s infrastructure and essential systems were significantly updated. Some aspects of the building insufficiently meet the needs and expectations of a 21st-century artsgoing audience. A long overdue renovation of the building is in the planning stages, with the intent of modernizing the building’s systems and patron amenities while preserving the hall’s status as a historic architectural and musical landmark. 2. When is the project scheduled to begin, and how long will it take? An official timeline is still in development, but preliminary plans suggest that construction could last approximately 17 months (spring 2011 through fall 2012). The auditorium will be closed for performances and events during this period; however, the Music Hall Ballroom and the Opera’s administrative offices will remain open. 3. Where will Cincinnati Opera hold its performances while Music Hall is undergoing renovation? We are currently planning for our 2011 and 2012 Summer Festival performances to take place at the Aronoff Center for the Arts. We have conducted acoustical tests in the Aronoff ’s Procter & Gamble Hall and are pleased to report that the space will work beautifully for the presentation of opera. About Music Hall continued on back.