Opera Company of Philadelphia
Encyclopedia
The Opera Company of Philadelphia (OPC) is an American
opera company in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
and is the city's only company producing grand opera
. The organization produces four fully staged opera
productions annually, encompassing works from the seventeenth through the 21st century. 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 the company's performances. The company has been led by Artistic Director Robert B. Driver since 1991.
(PLOC) and the Philadelphia Grand Opera Company
(PGOC); two organizations which had competed with one another for many years. 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. In 1976 the company presented the world premiere of Gian Carlo Menotti
's The Hero
.
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. In 1980, Corn left the company to become the director of the National Endowment for the Arts
' new opera and musical theater program. Margaret Anee Everitt, 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.
In March 1990 Everitt resigned from her post and Jane Grey Nemeth, the then director of the OPC'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. 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 2000–2004 and General and Artistic Director from 2004-2009. 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.Devan was appointed General Director in February 2011.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
opera company in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
and is the city's only company producing grand opera
Grand Opera
Grand opera is a genre of 19th-century opera generally in four or five acts, characterised by large-scale casts and orchestras, and lavish and spectacular design and stage effects, normally with plots based on or around dramatic historic events...
. The organization produces four fully staged opera
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...
productions annually, encompassing works from the seventeenth through the 21st century. The famed Academy of Music
Academy of Music (Philadelphia)
The Academy of Music, also known as American Academy of Music, is a concert hall and opera house located at Broad and Locust Streets in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It was built in 1857 and is the oldest opera house in the United States that is still used for its original purpose...
, the oldest opera house to be continuously in use for its original purpose within the United States, is currently the venue for the company's performances. The company has been led by Artistic Director Robert B. Driver since 1991.
History
The Opera Company of Philadelphia was established in 1975 with the merger of the Philadelphia Lyric Opera CompanyPhiladelphia Lyric Opera Company
The Philadelphia Lyric Opera Company was an American opera company located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania that was active between 1958 and 1974. The company was led by a number of Artistic Directors during its history, beginning with Aurelio Fabiani. Other notable Artistic Directors include Julius...
(PLOC) and the Philadelphia Grand Opera Company
Philadelphia Grand Opera Company
The Philadelphia Grand Opera Company was the name of four different American opera companies active at the Academy of Music in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania during the twentieth century. The last and most well known of the four was founded in November 1954 with the merger of the Philadelphia Civic...
(PGOC); two organizations which had competed with one another for many years. Adele W. Paxson
Adele W. Paxson
Adele Warden Paxson was an American socialite, philanthropist, conservationist, and a Champion breeder of Thoroughbred racehorses....
, who headed the PLOC, was appointed the first president of the company's board, a position she held for many years. Max Leon
Max Leon
Maximino León Molino is a former pitcher in Major League Baseball who played from through for the Atlanta Braves...
, 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. In 1976 the company presented the world premiere of Gian Carlo Menotti
Gian Carlo Menotti
Gian Carlo Menotti was an Italian-American composer and librettist. Although he often referred to himself as an American composer, he kept his Italian citizenship. He wrote the classic Christmas opera, Amahl and the Night Visitors, among about two dozen other operas intended to appeal to popular...
's The Hero
The Hero (opera)
The Hero is a two act opera by Italian-American composer Gian Carlo Menotti. Comissioned by the Opera Company of Philadelphia, the work premiered at the Philadelphia Academy of Music on June 1, 1976. At this point of his career, Menotti's style of composition, which rejected the avant-garde, was...
.
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
Julius Rudel
Julius Rudel is an American opera and orchestra conductor who emigrated to the United States from Austria at the age of 17 and studied conducting at the Mannes College of Music in New York City. He then forged a 35-year career with the New York City Opera, from 1944 to 1979, and was the Music...
became an artistic consultant for the company. In 1980, Corn left the company to become the director of the National Endowment for the Arts
National Endowment for the Arts
The National Endowment for the Arts is an independent agency of the United States federal government that offers support and funding for projects exhibiting artistic excellence. It was created by an act of the U.S. Congress in 1965 as an independent agency of the federal government. Its current...
' new opera and musical theater program. Margaret Anee Everitt, 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.
In March 1990 Everitt resigned from her post and Jane Grey Nemeth, the then director of the OPC'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. 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 2000–2004 and General and Artistic Director from 2004-2009. 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.Devan was appointed General Director in February 2011.