“A record box office of $34.4 million and increased government grants resulted in a record surplus of $1.6 million for Opera Australia last year, in which it also celebrated its 50th anniversary. … Opera Australia’s chairman, Gordon Fell, says the return is an important milestone that puts the company in ‘an unambiguously strong position’ and allows it to create a fund to support new operas and more tours, with an initial contribution of $1 million.”