• by Erik Sass  @eriksass1, August 21, 2015

With its 80th anniversary coming up, Opera News underwent a major redesign that made its debut with the September 2015 issue, the venerable cultural journal announced. Opera Newsworked with design firm Priest + Grace to create the new look.

New sections and features include  “Noteworthy & Now,” a front-of-the book section showcasing must-see events for each month, combining two previously separate sections, “OperaWatch” and “Dateline”; “Behind the Scenes,” a new section visiting the backstage world of a different U.S. company every month; and “Style,” a new monthly column featuring lifestyle stories from celebrities in the worlds of fashion, food and pop culture.

A number of popular features will continue as before, including “On the Beat,” “Road Show,” and “Sound Bites.”

The new design and editorial approach will allow the publication to address a broader range of topics related to opera, which also happen to be lucrative advertising categories.

Opera News editor-in-chief F. Paul Driscoll explained: “For many opera-lovers, the experience includes travel, cultural reporting and style. We are excited that with this redesign we will be embracing a wider range of our readers’ interests.”

Indeed, publisher Diane Silberstein noted: “The September issue has been our most successful in advertising revenue since 2007. Luxury marketers are tapping into our affluent and influential audience and we are pleased to welcome new luxury brand advertisers to the traditional mix as we begin a new era for Opera News.”

According to the publisher, Opera News has a rate base of 100,000 with an average household income of $323,107  and a median age of 56. 88% have college degrees and 60% have a post-college degree.