Small Companies, Large Hearts

I had the distinct pleasure today of meeting with Regina Thomas, Director of the Puget Sound Concert Opera (www.pugetsoundconcertopera.org).  The organization is not old, three or four years, and like most other arts organizations, they're struggling financially.  But Regina won't give up, and thinks that perhaps with a few well-placed ads and some publicity and/or attention from the right people her company could survive way past this coming season.  And get this: of all the opera companies in Washington State (and yes there are several other relatively well-known ones beyond Seattle Opera: Bellevue Opera, Tacoma Opera, Spokane Opera plus numerous smaller ones you probably haven't heard of before), evidently Puget Sound Concert Opera is the first opera company EVER to perform Verdi's Simon Boccanegra in Seattle!  Unbelievable, right?  

They are just what they sound like: a concert opera.  They employ local singers eager to put another role under their belt and on their resume, but thanks to a recent merger (with some yet-to-be-determined terms) with Bellevue Opera, PSCO is now able to hire a very small orchestra to accompany its singers when they perform the 3-4 operas they do each season.  They perform in venues throughout the Seattle area, but also travel outside the city, specifically to Friday Harbor in an effort to bring opera into places it really wouldn't normally reach.  Opera in rural Washington may seem an odd concept, but no odder I suppose than bringing organic vegetables onto the crowded streets of New York City.  These small companies are many and they will not all survive.  But they are little gems and should be treated with respect and encouraged to remain active and grow.