Lyric Opera delays season opener

Lyric Opera Virginia, the company launched last year by Peter Mark after his dismissal from Virginia Opera, has put off the opening production of its second season, a “grand opera” staging of Puccini’s “The Girl of the Golden West,” apparently because of financial constraints.

The Puccini, which was to have been presented next month, has been rescheduled for September 2013. LOV’s two other 2012-13 productions, the Broadway musical “Camelot” in January and a “jewel-box” (truncated) version of Gounod’s “Romeo and Juliet” in April, are still scheduled for performances in Virginia Beach, Richmond and Newport News.

Interviewed by Teresa Annas of The Virginian-Pilot (Norfolk), Joseph Walsh, LOV’s general director, was not specific about the company’s financial condition, but observed that “[i]t’s not easy to start a new arts organization in this economy” . . .

http://hamptonroads.com/2012/08/lyric-opera-postpones-opening-show-due-finances