Cleveland Opera, which has a budget of $4.7 million, performs large-scale productions in the fall, winter, and spring; the $540,000 Lyric Opera presents an annual summer season of smaller stagings. Under the current proposal, the summer season would continue under the direction of Lyric Opera artistic director Jonathon Field; the Cleveland Opera's winter season might be eliminated.

The Cleveland Opera board will vote on the merger today; the Lyric Opera will consider it on February 21. If it is approved, the two companies would then seek transition funding from local foundations.