The unprecedented receipts came despite what appeared to be a series of setbacks. Rains forced the festival to move some outdoor events inside, jazz singer Shirley Horn canceled her appearance for health reasons (Dianne Reeves filled in), and there was controversy over a staging by Lee Breuer's Mabou Mines of Ibsen's A Doll's House featuring male actors under four and a half feet tall playing opposite unusually tall women.

According to the Post and Courier, the festival's three operas all sold well, with G‹nter Kr‹mer's production of Don Giovanni selling out.

"An enormous number of people did say it was the best festival ever," director Nigel Redden told the paper. "Every year some people say it, but this year they said, 'This time I really, really mean it."