South Florida Classical Review reports that Raffaele Cardone, founder and general and artistic director of Miami Lyric Opera has announced the closure of the opera company after 22 years of producing Italian operas and nurturing talent. The company's last performance was a double bill of Mascagni’s Cavalleria Rusticana and Puccini’s Suor Angelica in November.

The decision to close MLO is attributed to financial challenges, including increased costs for venue, labor, musicians, and artists, which have made it unsustainable to continue producing quality opera productions.