Staged concert opera trims costs and underscores the music, but it's tricky to market

“In opera, staging exists on a spectrum. At one end, there is “grand” opera, that barely mov­able feast, with its complex sets and glamorous costumes. At the other end is “concert” opera, where singers typically dress in for­mal attire and stand in front of an orchestra, distilling the art form to only its musical elements.” - David Patrick Stearns, Opera America