New York City Opera to Leave Lincoln Center

City Opera Departure Brings Questions

The New York Times

After years of struggling with budgets and leadership turmoil, City Opera announced plans to move out of its recently refurbished home, the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center. George Steel, City Opera's general manager and artistic director since 2009, says the company still plans to perform five operas and three concerts starting in October in other locations in the city. Founded in 1943 as the "people's opera company," City Opera has nurtured great artists like Beverly Sills, Placido Domingo and Sherrill Milnes. Musicians' union representatives expressed concern that the company will be unable to satisfy its annual guarantee of 26 weeks of work.