Opera Philadelphia (prior to 2013 Opera Company of Philadelphia (OCP)) is an American opera company in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and is the city's only company producing grand opera. The organization produces one festival in September (Festival O) and additional operas in the spring season, encompassing works from the 17th through the 21st century.[1] The famed Academy of Music, the oldest opera house to be continuously in use for its original purpose within the United States, is currently the venue for three of the company's performances. The company is led by David Devan, who was appointed general director in 2011 and announced his retirement in 2024.[2]
The Opera Company of Philadelphia was established in 1975 with the merger of the Philadelphia Lyric Opera Company (PLOC) and the Philadelphia Grand Opera Company (PGOC); two organizations which had competed with one another for many years.[3]Adele W. Paxson, who headed the PLOC, was appointed the first president of the company's board, a position she held for many years. Max Leon, conductor and general manager of the PGOC, became the company's first general manager, and Carl Suppa became the company's first artistic director. All three individuals were largely responsible for arranging, planning, and executing the merger.[4] In 1976 the company presented the world premiere of Gian Carlo Menotti's The Hero.[5]
At the end of the 1977–1978 season both Leon and Suppa left the company. As a result, J. Edward Corn was appointed the company's second general manager; subsequently Julius Rudel became an artistic consultant for the company.[6] In 1980, Corn left the company to become the director of the National Endowment for the Arts' new opera and musical theater program.[7] Margaret Anne Everett, the OCP's director of educational and community services since 1977, was initially appointed the company's acting manager and then officially became the company's third general manager. She remained in that position for fourteen years.[3][8]
In March 1990 Everett resigned from her post and Jane Grey Nemeth, the then director of the OCP's Luciano Pavarotti International Voice Competition, became the company's acting general director. In January 1991 the company named Robert B. Driver its general director.[9] The company's management structure has changed several times during Driver's time with the company, he previously served as the title artistic director from 2000 to 2004 and general and artistic director from 2004 to 2009. On March 31, 2009 it was announced that Driver would return to the post of artistic director, and David B. Devan, the OCP's managing director since January 2006, would serve as the OCP's executive director.[10] Devan was appointed general director in February 2011.[11]
In 2013 the OCP renamed itself Opera Philadelphia and adopted a new logo.[12]
Referencesedit
Notesedit
^Chow, Andrew R. (20 March 2018). "Ambitious Opera Philadelphia Announces Its New Season". The New York Times.
^Dobrin, Peter (February 8, 2011). "Opera Company names David B. Devan general director". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Interstate General Media. Retrieved 20 September 2012.
^ ab. www.visitphilly.com. Archived from the original on 2011-11-07. Retrieved 2011-05-25.
^"Opera Merger in Philadelphia". The New York Times. March 25, 1975. Retrieved June 26, 2009.
^Albin Krebs (May 13, 1977). "Notes on People". The New York Times. Retrieved June 26, 2009.
^"J. Edward Corn, 64, an Opera Manager". The New York Times. November 10, 1997. Retrieved June 26, 2009.
^"News: Opera Companies" (PDF). Central Opera Service Bulletin. Vol. 22, no. 1. Spring 1980. Retrieved June 26, 2009.
^"Opera in Philadelphia Names New Director". The New York Times. January 26, 1991. Retrieved June 26, 2009.
^. Archived from the original on 2011-07-25. Retrieved 2009-06-26.
^Peter Dobrin (February 8, 2011). "Opera Company names David B. Devan general director". The Philadelphia Inquirer.
^David Patrick Stearns (Jan 29, 2013). "Opera Philadelphia: New name, expanded reach". philly.com. Retrieved Feb 21, 2013.
Other sourcesedit
David Patrick Stearns, "The Philadelphia Story: Things are looking up, operatically speaking, in the City of Brotherly Love", Opera News (New York), Vol. 78, No. 9, March 2014
opera, philadelphia, prior, 2013, opera, company, philadelphia, american, opera, company, philadelphia, pennsylvania, city, only, company, producing, grand, opera, organization, produces, festival, september, festival, additional, operas, spring, season, encom. Opera Philadelphia prior to 2013 Opera Company of Philadelphia OCP is an American opera company in Philadelphia Pennsylvania and is the city s only company producing grand opera The organization produces one festival in September Festival O and additional operas in the spring season encompassing works from the 17th through the 21st century 1 The famed Academy of Music the oldest opera house to be continuously in use for its original purpose within the United States is currently the venue for three of the company s performances The company is led by David Devan who was appointed general director in 2011 and announced his retirement in 2024 2 A scene from Opera Philadelphia s 2018 production of George Benjamin s Written on Skin Contents 1 History 2 References 2 1 Notes 2 2 Other sources 3 External linksHistory editThe Opera Company of Philadelphia was established in 1975 with the merger of the Philadelphia Lyric Opera Company PLOC and the Philadelphia Grand Opera Company PGOC two organizations which had competed with one another for many years 3 Adele W Paxson who headed the PLOC was appointed the first president of the company s board a position she held for many years Max Leon conductor and general manager of the PGOC became the company s first general manager and Carl Suppa became the company s first artistic director All three individuals were largely responsible for arranging planning and executing the merger 4 In 1976 the company presented the world premiere of Gian Carlo Menotti s The Hero 5 At the end of the 1977 1978 season both Leon and Suppa left the company As a result J Edward Corn was appointed the company s second general manager subsequently Julius Rudel became an artistic consultant for the company 6 In 1980 Corn left the company to become the director of the National Endowment for the Arts new opera and musical theater program 7 Margaret Anne Everett the OCP s director of educational and community services since 1977 was initially appointed the company s acting manager and then officially became the company s third general manager She remained in that position for fourteen years 3 8 In March 1990 Everett resigned from her post and Jane Grey Nemeth the then director of the OCP s Luciano Pavarotti International Voice Competition became the company s acting general director In January 1991 the company named Robert B Driver its general director 9 The company s management structure has changed several times during Driver s time with the company he previously served as the title artistic director from 2000 to 2004 and general and artistic director from 2004 to 2009 On March 31 2009 it was announced that Driver would return to the post of artistic director and David B Devan the OCP s managing director since January 2006 would serve as the OCP s executive director 10 Devan was appointed general director in February 2011 11 In 2013 the OCP renamed itself Opera Philadelphia and adopted a new logo 12 References editNotes edit Chow Andrew R 20 March 2018 Ambitious Opera Philadelphia Announces Its New Season The New York Times Dobrin Peter February 8 2011 Opera Company names David B Devan general director The Philadelphia Inquirer Interstate General Media Retrieved 20 September 2012 a b Opera Company of Philadelphia Major works in the country s most historic opera house www visitphilly com Archived from the original on 2011 11 07 Retrieved 2011 05 25 Opera Merger in Philadelphia The New York Times March 25 1975 Retrieved June 26 2009 Music Souvenir Opera Time William Bender June 14 1976 Albin Krebs May 13 1977 Notes on People The New York Times Retrieved June 26 2009 J Edward Corn 64 an Opera Manager The New York Times November 10 1997 Retrieved June 26 2009 News Opera Companies PDF Central Opera Service Bulletin Vol 22 no 1 Spring 1980 Retrieved June 26 2009 Opera in Philadelphia Names New Director The New York Times January 26 1991 Retrieved June 26 2009 David B Devan Appointed Executive Director of Opera Company of Philadelphia Archived from the original on 2011 07 25 Retrieved 2009 06 26 Peter Dobrin February 8 2011 Opera Company names David B Devan general director The Philadelphia Inquirer David Patrick Stearns Jan 29 2013 Opera Philadelphia New name expanded reach philly com Retrieved Feb 21 2013 Other sources edit David Patrick Stearns The Philadelphia Story Things are looking up operatically speaking in the City of Brotherly Love Opera News New York Vol 78 No 9 March 2014External links editOfficial website 39 56 53 N 75 09 57 W 39 94804 N 75 16589 W 39 94804 75 16589 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Opera Philadelphia amp oldid 1170536735, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
