Opera Pacific had a fatal flaw

I was sad to hear that Opera Pacific was canceling its season [“Opera Pacific Cancels Season,” by Mike Boehm, Nov. 6].

However, I have not attended for a while because I can’t afford $225 a ticket. In retrospect, I think the failure of Opera Pacific was it was trying to be too much like L.A. Opera with high-priced productions and internationally known singers. Apparently Southern California only has enough donors to support one such opera company.

Last week I saw an opera company at the Cerritos Center for $35 for front-row seats. The sets and costumes were cheesy, the orchestra was small and I had never heard of any of the singers, but I thought it would have been a bargain at twice the price.

Obviously if Southern California is going to have a second opera company, it cannot compete with L.A. Opera. It is going to have to be able to support itself with ticket sales and not rely on donors, and it is going to have to present opera that average people can afford to attend.

Brent Trafton

Long Beach