Most swords are double edged. Yes subsidization provides many more operatic performances around Germany and also permits some cocooned flights of fancy. But in the final analysis German-Austrian audiences are not vociferously rebelling against Regietheater for reasons I pointed out previously.

More generally I want to say that while opera is certainly less popular even among the frequent classical listener I worry about its future less than I do the future of purely instrumental classical music. Opera has a visual aspect obviously which fits with current socio cultural preferences.