American Opera Company
Encyclopedia
The American Opera Company was the name of four different opera
companies active in the United States. The first company was a short-lived opera company founded in New York City in February, 1886 that lasted only one season. The second company was based out of Rochester, New York
and was active from the mid 1920s up until 1930 when it went bankrupt not too long after the Wall Street Crash of 1929
. The third opera company was a short lived company located in Trenton
, New Jersey
that was active in 1937. The fourth and last opera company was actively performing in Philadelphia from 1946 through 1950.
who had just founded the National Conservatory of Music of America
a few months earlier. Based in New York City, the American Opera Company was under the musical direction of Theodore Thomas with Gustav Hinrichs
and Arthur Mees assistant conductors and Charles E. Locke was the business manager. It rented the premises of the Academy of Music
in New York City for local performances during 1886. It also toured, playing in April, May and June 1886 in, among other cities, Boston
, Indianapolis
, Philadelphia and St. Louis. The repertoire included Verdi's Aida, Wagner
's Lohengrin, and Gounod's Faust. In August, the company announced an ambitious plan to travel to Paris, a trip that never came about.
A succinct statement of Thurber's vision for the American Opera Company appeared in August, 1886, when she was cited as "... [recognizing] the fact that the true conception of a national opera is opera sung in a nation's language and, as far as practicable, the work of a nation's composers, [and that she hoped]…in time to develop and patronize American composers."
Financial difficulties led to a reorganization and name change to the "National Opera Company" in December 1887 and, ultimately, bankruptcy in March, 1887.
and Rouben Mamoulian
at the Eastman School of Music
in Rochester. Its mission was to perform operas in English to popular audiences nationwide. First known as the Rochester American Opera Company the group made its New York City debut in April 1927 at the Guild Theatre. It won the support of many wealthy and influential backers. By the time it performed for President Coolidge and 150 members of Congress at Washington D.C.'s Poli's Theater in December 1927, the company was known as the American Opera Company.
The opera company strictly adhered to a non-star policy, developing instead a unity of ensemble whereby a singer might have a leading role one night and a supporting role the next.
During January and February 1928 the American Opera Company then brought seven weeks of opera to Broadway at New York's Gallo Theater, including a notable adaptation of Faust
. In addition to familiar operas, Rosing subsequently selected several operas composed by American composers for production, including The Sunset Trail by Charles Wakefield Cadman
,The Legend of the Piper by Eleanor Everest Freer
, and Yolanda of Cyprus by Clarence Loomis. National tours followed for the next two years, but the Crash of 1929 caused bookings for the 1930-31 season to dematerialize. The group earned an official endorsement from President Herbert Hoover, calling for it to become "a permanent national institution", but it was not enough as the country sank into the Great Depression. Its last performances in New York were of Madame Butterfly and Yolanda of Cyprus at the Casino Theatre on Broadway in January 1930.
Opera
Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
companies active in the United States. The first company was a short-lived opera company founded in New York City in February, 1886 that lasted only one season. The second company was based out of Rochester, New York
Rochester, New York
Rochester is a city in Monroe County, New York, south of Lake Ontario in the United States. Known as The World's Image Centre, it was also once known as The Flour City, and more recently as The Flower City...
and was active from the mid 1920s up until 1930 when it went bankrupt not too long after the Wall Street Crash of 1929
Wall Street Crash of 1929
The Wall Street Crash of 1929 , also known as the Great Crash, and the Stock Market Crash of 1929, was the most devastating stock market crash in the history of the United States, taking into consideration the full extent and duration of its fallout...
. The third opera company was a short lived company located in Trenton
Trenton, New Jersey
Trenton is the capital of the U.S. state of New Jersey and the county seat of Mercer County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Trenton had a population of 84,913...
, New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
that was active in 1937. The fourth and last opera company was actively performing in Philadelphia from 1946 through 1950.
Jeannette Thurber's American Opera Company
The first American Opera Company was founded in 1886 by well known arts patron Jeannette Meyers ThurberJeannette Thurber
Jeanette Thurber was amongst the first major patrons of classical music in the United States. She was the daughter of Henry Meyers, an immigrant violinist from Copenhagen, Denmark and Annamarie Coffin Price...
who had just founded the National Conservatory of Music of America
National Conservatory of Music of America
The National Conservatory of Music of America was an institution for higher education in music founded in 1885 in New York City by Jeannette Meyers Thurber...
a few months earlier. Based in New York City, the American Opera Company was under the musical direction of Theodore Thomas with Gustav Hinrichs
Gustav Hinrichs
Gustav Ludwig Wilhelm HinrichsNot to be confused with Gustav Dethlef Hinrichs, a noted scientist of the 19th century, or Gustav Hinrichs, of Berlin, a German historian and classicist who collaborated with the Brothers Grimm in addition to many of his own writings...
and Arthur Mees assistant conductors and Charles E. Locke was the business manager. It rented the premises of the Academy of Music
Academy of Music (Manhattan)
The Academy of Music was a New York City opera house, located at East 14th Street and Irving Place in Manhattan. The 4,000-seat hall opened on October 2, 1854. The New York Times review declared it to be an acoustical "triumph", but "In every other aspect .....
in New York City for local performances during 1886. It also toured, playing in April, May and June 1886 in, among other cities, Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
, Indianapolis
Indianapolis
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
, Philadelphia and St. Louis. The repertoire included Verdi's Aida, Wagner
Richard Wagner
Wilhelm Richard Wagner was a German composer, conductor, theatre director, philosopher, music theorist, poet, essayist and writer primarily known for his operas...
's Lohengrin, and Gounod's Faust. In August, the company announced an ambitious plan to travel to Paris, a trip that never came about.
A succinct statement of Thurber's vision for the American Opera Company appeared in August, 1886, when she was cited as "... [recognizing] the fact that the true conception of a national opera is opera sung in a nation's language and, as far as practicable, the work of a nation's composers, [and that she hoped]…in time to develop and patronize American composers."
Financial difficulties led to a reorganization and name change to the "National Opera Company" in December 1887 and, ultimately, bankruptcy in March, 1887.
Rochester's American Opera Company
In the mid-1920s, a professional touring opera company emerged from the innovative productions of Vladimir RosingVladimir Rosing
Vladimir Sergeyevich Rosing , aka Val Rosing, was a Russian-born operatic tenor and stage director who spent most of his professional career in England and the United States...
and Rouben Mamoulian
Rouben Mamoulian
Rouben Mamoulian was an Armenian-American film and theatre director.-Biography:Born in Tbilisi, Georgia to an Armenian family, Rouben relocated to England and started directing plays in London in 1922...
at the Eastman School of Music
Eastman School of Music
The Eastman School of Music is a music conservatory located in Rochester, New York. The Eastman School is a professional school within the University of Rochester...
in Rochester. Its mission was to perform operas in English to popular audiences nationwide. First known as the Rochester American Opera Company the group made its New York City debut in April 1927 at the Guild Theatre. It won the support of many wealthy and influential backers. By the time it performed for President Coolidge and 150 members of Congress at Washington D.C.'s Poli's Theater in December 1927, the company was known as the American Opera Company.
The opera company strictly adhered to a non-star policy, developing instead a unity of ensemble whereby a singer might have a leading role one night and a supporting role the next.
During January and February 1928 the American Opera Company then brought seven weeks of opera to Broadway at New York's Gallo Theater, including a notable adaptation of Faust
Faust (opera)
Faust is a drame lyrique in five acts by Charles Gounod to a French libretto by Jules Barbier and Michel Carré from Carré's play Faust et Marguerite, in turn loosely based on Johann Wolfgang von Goethe's Faust, Part 1...
. In addition to familiar operas, Rosing subsequently selected several operas composed by American composers for production, including The Sunset Trail by Charles Wakefield Cadman
Charles Wakefield Cadman
Charles Wakefield Cadman was an American composer.Cadman’s musical education, unlike that of most of his American contemporaries, was completely American. Born in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, he began piano lessons at 13...
,The Legend of the Piper by Eleanor Everest Freer
Eleanor Everest Freer
Eleanor Everest Freer was an American composer and philanthropist.-Life:Eleanor Everest was born in Philadelphia, the daughter of Cornelius Everest and Ellen Amelia Everest, and studied singing in Paris with Mathilde Marchesi and composition with Benjamin Godard...
, and Yolanda of Cyprus by Clarence Loomis. National tours followed for the next two years, but the Crash of 1929 caused bookings for the 1930-31 season to dematerialize. The group earned an official endorsement from President Herbert Hoover, calling for it to become "a permanent national institution", but it was not enough as the country sank into the Great Depression. Its last performances in New York were of Madame Butterfly and Yolanda of Cyprus at the Casino Theatre on Broadway in January 1930.