The New York City Opera says it may have to cancel the rest of its season if it can’t raise $7m (£4.5m) by the end of this month.

The announcement comes nine days before the US premiere of Anna Nicole, an opera about the model who, at the age of 26, married the 89-year-old oil magnate J Howard Marshall.

The opera company has struggled with cash-flow problems, and matters came to a head over the summer when some pledges fell through. The company needs $20m to ensure its future. It is hoping to raise $1m via the Kickstarter crowd sourcing website to allow it to complete its 2013-14 season.

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AP