The Los Angeles Times quoted L. A. Opera artistic director Edgar Baitzel as saying "The last three performances were completely sold out. It's sad when you have to turn away people at the box office, but there was no possibility of getting a ticket. The buzz was tremendous."

The spokesman confirmed that over the six performance run in Los Angeles, the company regained the $300,000 it lost after being forced to cancel the May 27 premiere due to technical glitches in George Tsypin's lavish sets.

According to the L. A. Times, the company won't restage the Julie Taymor production, however, unless Eric Owens agrees to sing the title role again.