In a rare bit of good news for the beleaguered opera world, the Lyric Opera of Chicago’s endowment grew to $139.8-million, an increase of 30 percent over fiscal 2009, and the company has raised more than $16.6-million in contributions, writes the Chicago Tribune.

The company saw a 12 percent drop in subscription ticket sales in the 2009-10 season and was forced to use roughly $2.7-million in reserve funds to balance its books for fiscal 2010.

In a statement, the opera’s general director, William Mason, cautioned that the group “must continue to be vigilant about spending and reduce costs wherever possible.”

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