Seattle Opera has balanced its budget for the 18th time in 19 years, the opera board announced on Tuesday night.

The original budget for the season — which included productions of "Tristan und Isolde," "Barber of Seville" and "Magic Flute" — totaled more than $23 million; the total expense budget for the season (unaudited) is projected to be just less than $21.5 million.

Cost-cutting measures the opera initiated in response to economic downturn have included furloughs, pay freezes and modified contracts.

The opera pointed out in a news release that its planning process "stressed creativity, innovation, and frugality" during the past season; for instance, the company's production of "Tristan und Isolde" used projection technology and "Lucia di Lammermoor" featured scenery redesigned from another Seattle Opera production.

Also new this year was the opera's series of community-engagement activities, including "The Barber of Seattle" competition and "Flute-a-palooza" open house. More than 27,000 people participated in non-mainstage programs this season, the opera reported.

The opera's current production is "Porgy and Bess" and its run ends Aug. 20. Info: www.seattleopera.org.

Also

The opera honored a soprano and a fashion designer as its 2010-11 Artists of the Year at Tuesday's board meeting. Named to the honor were soprano Aleksandra Kurzak, who sang the title role in "Lucia di Lammermoor" in October, and Zandra Rhodes, costume designer for "Magic Flute" in May.

Seattle Times staff