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\"Her modesty inspired her to give anonymously for decades, but OTSL estimates that she contributed a total sum of $2.5 million dollars to the company during her lifetime,\" OTSL wrote.

\"PHOTO:
Opera Theatre of Saint Louis
PHOTO: Phyllis Brissenden with fashion icon Isaac Mizrahi, director and designer of The Magic Flute in 2014.
>

Brissenden's gift will more than double the theatre's general endowment fund from $35 million to approximately $80 million, which will help make mainstage productions, civic programming, artist training and nationally acclaimed educational programs all possible, OTSL explained.

The Opera Theatre said it will dedicate its 2020 production of \"Susannah,\" an opera written in the mid-20th century by Carlisle Floyd, in memory of Brissenden and plans to hold \"a fitting celebration of her transformative gift to take place later this year.\"

Longtime opera supporters Mecedes Bass and Ann Ziff, who both serve on the Metropolitan Opera's Board of Directors, have previously held records for their multimillion dollar contributions to the opera house in New York City.

Bass donated $25 million in 2006, and four years later Ziff gave a $30 million gift, which became the largest single gift from an individual in the Metropolitan Opera's history.

The San Francisco Opera also received its largest single donation in 2006 from frequent supporter Jeanne Littlefield for $35 million.

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