As everyone knows, practically nobody reads the Saturday edition of the New York Times even during the winter, much less on the first weekend of the summer when everyone who might be interested in giving money to an opera company is on their way to the Hamptons.

So it comes as no surprise that it is tomorrow’s edition of the Times that breaks the not very pleasant news that the 2008-2009 season at the New York City Opera will consist of exactly two performances. The budget for this (ahem) abbreviated stagione? Oh, about, say, $32 million.

By the way, did La Cieca mention that the NYCO orchestra will stay busy touring the boroughs with a program of Messiaen, Stravinsky, Foss, Reich and Varèse?

Coming up on the Fourth of July weekend: Anthony Tommasini examines Gérard Mortier‘s medical records.