Let’s hope that the news of Handa Opera’s demise has been greatly exaggerated.

Yesterday’s report in the Sydney Morning Herald that the fat lady might be about to sing her last on Sydney Harbour sent a ripple around the arts world. Opera Australia’s Chief Executive Craig Hassall was reported as saying that the company was in discussions with Dr Handa, the Japanese philanthropist who has supported the first three productions (but has yet to see a single one of them), to extend the sponsorship deal. “I’d be surprised if he doesn’t continue,’ Hassall said, “but he hasn’t confirmed that he will.”

If Madama Butterfly should prove the swansong of Lyndon Terracini’s ambitious scheme to bring opera to the masses it will be a great pity. In short, HOSH (as it’s known) will be over just as things are hotting up.

In the early days the average opera fan might not have been bothered by the kind of spectacle that HOSH offered. The typical buffs were more inclined to look down their noses at anything that advertised the chandelier and the fireworks over the name of the prima donna – poor old Emma Matthews name never even made the Traviata posters....