WBAL.com

The Baltimore Opera Company is filing for bankruptcy.

The group which has produced more than 200 operas over the last 58 years has been beset by dwindling ticket sales and contributions and rising costs. It’s board of directors voted last week to file for Chapter 11 protection.

The remaining two productions for the current season, The Barber of Seville and Porgy and Bess have been cancelled and officials say ticket holders will NOT receive refunds. A spokeswoman says people who have bought tickets will receive letters explaining the option of treating their ticket purchase as a tax deduction.

The spokeswoman tells The Baltimore Sun that the opera company has faced cash flow issues for the last several years and had an accumulated debt of about $800,000.