The Week in Review

Electra Partners Acquires Allen & Heath: Allen & Heath, the well-known UK-based manufacturer of audio consoles, has been purchased by Electra Partners, which describes itself as "an independent private equity fund manager with more than 30 years' experience in the mid-market." According to the company's website, "During the last 25 years, we have invested in excess of £3 billion in over 150 deals. As of 31 March 2013, we had funds under management of in excess £1.6 billion and funds available for new investment of nearly £300 million." Allen & Heath's previous owner was D&M Holdings, the Japanese company that also owns Denon, Marantz, and other audio manufacturers. As always, everyone is saying happy things about the deal, but this is major, so keep your eyes on Allen & Heath to see if any big changes happen. For more details, go to: http://plasa.me/l60no.

Robe Aids in Flood Relief: It was only a month ago that some of us were in Cesky Krumlov, the Czech Republic, for Showlight. It is especially saddening to see that flooding in that part of the world has put that charming town, and many others, underwater. It seems especially fitting that Robe, the main sponsor of Showlight, has rallied round to bring much-needed supplies to flood-devastated towns. For the full story, go to. Http://plasa.me/fci0k.

Lyric Opera of Chicago in the black: It's always great to see a major cultural institution doing well financially, so cheers to Lyric Opera of Chicago has closed its season with its finances in the black. The company's operating expenses for 2012 - 2013 were $64.7 million. A total of 264,000 tickets were sold for the season -- a 15% increase over the number sold in the previous year (229,775). Of these additional 34,000 tickets sold, more than 27,000 were purchased by people who were attending a Lyric event for the very first time. Lyric sold 80% of its seating capacity for all events in the 2012 -2013 season. The company also reports that its production of the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical Oklahoma! brought some 18,000 new audience members. "This was the largest number of individual tickets Lyric has ever sold for a single production," said Anthony Freud, the company's general director. Lyric Unlimited events such as the The Second City Guide to the Opera, January performance and cabaret shows, and the Midwest premiere of the mariachi opera Cruzar la Cara de la Luna at the opera house and in the communities of Pilsen and Waukegan, attracted some 9,000 people to Lyric for the first time. Total operating expenses for fiscal year 2014 are set at $67.7 million dollars with a fundraising goal of $23.6 million. For more, go to: http://plasa.me/tze1d.