What a difference a change of venue can make.

The Atlanta Opera —- after toiling for 28 years in theaters that were substandard for its art —- finally moved into a proper-sized home this past season, and the numbers tell the story.

Here are the results of the opera's 2007-08 season, its first at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre. (Things look promising for next season as well. So far, subscription renewals are "slightly ahead of where they were this time last year," says Dennis Hanthorn, the opera's general director.)

ENERGY BOOST

.........................2006-07......2007-08 ....Percent

.......................Civic Center..Cobb Energy..increase

Subscription revenue ....$658,497....$1,444,503 ..119 percent

Single-ticket revenue....$414,580....$699,823 ....69 percent

No. of subscriptions ....3,191 ......6,267........96 percent

No. of single tickets....6,479 ......11,690 ......80 percent

Total attendance ........22,874......38,194 ......67 percent

Average attendance ......5,719 ......9,549........67 percent

Total capacity available 45,910......41,888

Capacity filled..........50 percent..91 percent

2006-07 season: Three productions with three performances each.

2007-08 season: Four productions with four performances each.

Theater capacities for opera

Civic Center: 4,591

Cobb Energy Centre: 2,618

Source: Atlanta Opera

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