The company made solid financial gains in its 60th anniversary year.

Opera Australia has announced a $3.37 million surplus in its annual report for 2016. The company’s total box office was $58.2 million, up $7 million on 2015. This is welcome news for the company, which reported a $900,000 deficit in 2014 and a modest surplus of $237,165 the following year.

“The outcome is a considerable turnaround year-on-year for the Company and a tribute to Chief Executive Craig Hassall’s leadership and Artistic Director Lyndon Terracini’s inspired programming,” wrote OA Chairman David Mortimer in the company’s Annual Report. “It is also a tribute to the considerable output from the hard-working, productive and creative workforce which forms the backbone of Australia’s largest performing arts company.”

In addition to the $3.37 million surplus, the sale of Opera Australia’s Melbourne headquarters contributed another $9.6 million to the company.

“In honour of Opera Australia’s 60th Anniversary we presented a diverse programme that was overwhelmingly embraced by opera and music lovers, new audiences and subscribers alike, it’s been an incredibly rewarding year on so many levels,” said OA Artistic Director Lynden Terracini.

Highlights of the 2016 programme included Opera Australia’s first co-production with Lausanne Opera, Verdi’s