Opera Australia (OA) has released its 2023 Annual Report, revealing an overall operating loss of $4.9m.

In the previous financial year – one bolstered by a $10m booster shot in the form of a NSW Government COVID Support Package – OA reported a loss of $447,878.

Iain Henderson, Jessica Pratt and the Opera Australia Chorus in Opera Australia’s The Tales of Hoffmann. Photo © Keith Saunders

Marking the milestone of 50 years of performing at the Sydney Opera House in 2023, OA presented 30 productions: 14 operas, 13 concerts and recitals, and three musicals. Total box office revenue was just over $65.7m, sharply down from the previous year’s $79.8m.

Just over 492,000 people attended 454 OA performances nationwide, down from 627,000 across 507 performances in 2021-22.

First-time purchasers to OA performances rose from 50% in 2022 to 60%, in part driven by musicals such as Cinderella and Miss Saigon.

In funding terms, 70% of OA’s income was self-generated (52% of that from box office) with 24% coming from government multi-year funding, 6% from government project funding and the balance in philanthropic donations.

OA’s Capital Fund contributed a $1m annual endowment through its Distribution to...