Connecticut Opera Closes Doors After 67 Seasons, Cites Bad Economy

Officials of the Connecticut Opera say the organization has gone out of business after 67 seasons because of the bad economy.

The opera closed its Hartford headquarters and laid off all staff. It says the 2,000 subscribers won't be getting their money back on two recently canceled springtime productions, including "La Boheme."

Opera board Chairman John Kreitler says the group is not filing for bankruptcy as that would cost too much. Kreitler stated opera officials are working with creditors and calls the opera "another casualty of the economic conditions."

The state attorney general's office says it is looking into the closure. A detailed letter to customers who had bought now-worthless tickets suggests that they write off the cost as a charitable contribution to the opera.

They reported the plans to cancel the final two operas of the season in a letter to audience members on the official Connecticut Opera website which you can read by clicking here.