Lyric Opera fundraiser nets $476,513

CHICAGO — Officials at Lyric Opera of Chicago say Operathon 2010 brought in a record-breaking $476,513 in pledges.

Lyric general director William Mason said Monday that the 31st annual fundraiser greatly exceeded its posted goal of $400,000.

Mason says the success of the 16-hour weekend broadcast on Chicago radio station WFMT is integral to Lyric's 2010-11 fundraising goal of $17.1 million.

This year, Operathon began at 8 a.m. Saturday and ran until midnight. It was broadcast from Lyric's administrative offices at the Civic Opera House.