Dear Friends of CCO:

Unlike most non-profit organizations, we have our annual appeal in March to coincide with our benefit and other events. But I know many people prefer to donate at the end of the year, and believe me, we are grateful for your donation at any time!

About eighty years ago, Congress recognized the need for an American Opera Company. There was no American opera culture to speak of, the conductors, artists and most importantly, the operas were all coming from Europe. Even the president of the United States recognized such a need and gave his support. Can you imagine this happening today?

February 18, 1930

My dear Mr. Speaker:

I am glad to learn of your interest in the American Opera Company. It is a vital movement to establish a national organization for young American singers, composers and writers.

I wish to take this opportunity to endorse so fine an effort and to urge all music loving Americans to lend their support in making it a permanent national institution.
Yours faithfully,

HERBERT HOOVER

[The Honorable Nicholas Longworth, House of Representatives, Washington, D.C.]

Unfortunately, the depression crushed the short-lived company but it did accomplish several things, not the least of which was presenting American opera for the first time on any sort of regular basis. In a world of Butterflys, Traviatas, Bohemes, and Carmens, there is one opera company that still maintains the vision and mission of the old American Opera Company and that is the Center for Contemporary Opera.

In fact, I am sure President Hoover would be delighted to learn that American opera is not only being presented in the United States but is also presented in Europe to great acclaim! We took Michael Dellaira’s The Secret Agent to the Armel Festival in Hungary where it not only played to a full house but was also broadcast live across Europe where we understand it was viewed by over one million households! This was followed not only by an invitation to return to the festival in 2012 but the director of the Avignon Theatre was in the audience and issues an invitation for us to perform at his theatre in  April, 2012!

The reason for our success is that people like you believe in us. You appreciate that CCO has “done more to advance the cause of American opera than any other company, large or small”. You appreciate that we do not waste a penny of your contribution and you also appreciate that foundations and other funders are recognizing the important work we are doing. In fact, we will soon be making the most significant announcement in our long history! As the Financial Times said, we are “an easy enterprise to applaud”

May we count on you? Please safely donate on-line by clicking the link below. Or, you may send a check payable to Center for Contemporary Opera PO Box 3169, New York, NY 10163.

Thank you sincerely for your support, past, present, and future…as the youngsters would say, CCO is out there, getting it done.

Best wishes,

PS. For your convenience, you may donate safely on-line through Just Give. Please do so today.Thank you!