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Hartford Arts Pillars Strong, Vital

DAVID FAY, MICHAEL STOTTS, KRISTEN M. PHILLIPS

February 15, 2009

We were very saddened to hear the news that Connecticut Opera has ceased operations. As members of the Greater Hartford arts community, it is difficult to hear when one of our peers has fallen victim to the current economic situation.

The arts are a crucial and vibrant part of the fabric of Hartford, and now more than ever we need the engaging and inspirational value that the arts bring to all of our lives. Performances — whether a Tony Award-winning musical at The Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts, a Pulitzer Prize-winning play at Hartford Stage or a concert of music by a legendary composer performed by the Hartford Symphony Orchestra — bring our community together in a way that is so important during these difficult times.

In spite of the unfortunate demise of the opera, the Hartford arts scene is alive and well. The Bushnell, Hartford Stage and the Hartford Symphony, among others, remain financially strong and well-positioned to weather the current economic storm. We are each governed by fiscally demanding boards of trustees, and we each maintain sizable endowments, which help cushion the effects of economically challenging times. And we continue to receive the generous support of our patrons, donors and sponsors who enable us to continue to bring you high-caliber production and performance.

At the heart of a strong and vibrant arts community, our three organizations have decided to band together to give Connecticut Opera subscribers an opportunity to enjoy a theatrical or musical show presented by one of our organizations in lieu of being able to see the remainder of the opera season. All opera subscribers may exchange their tickets for tickets to see the social satire "Greater Tuna" at the Bushnell in May, the Tony Award-winning comedy "Noises Off!" at Hartford Stage in April and May, or one of a variety of Masterworks or Pops concerts given by the symphony this spring.

Furthermore, we are all committed to a future that includes the presentation of great opera performances in Hartford.

Despite the troubling news we've seen in recent headlines, our city's arts community remains strong. We want to assure all of our patrons that we care about them, and that we will do everything within our power to continue to provide them with exceptional performing arts experiences. We look forward to welcoming the opera patrons to our theaters and our shows in the coming weeks.