“Despite a shortened season and fewer ticket sales than usual, the Seattle Opera ended the season on a high note… For the 11th consecutive year, the opera has ended the season in the black. For 2002-03, the opera spent exactly what its budget projected: $14.3 million.” Not all the news was bright – slumping ticket sales are always a concern – but the company’s board says that prospects for the future are brighter because of the financial conservatism the company has adopted for the present.