TT: A footnote to "Sightings"

Apropos of my column in today's Wall Street Journal about the institutional mission of New York City Opera, here's an additional thought:

• "The people's opera" was a great mission statement.

• "The place where Beverly Sills sings" was a good (if limiting) mission statement.

• "The opera company that does some of what the Metropolitan Opera does, only not as often and not as well--and by the way, where are we performing next week?" is a really, really bad mission statement.