Florida Grand Opera
Florida Grand Opera (FGO) is an American opera company based in Miami, Florida. FGO was created in 1994 from the consolidation of two opera companies in the Miami-Fort Lauderdale region:
- Opera Guild of Greater Miami, originally founded in 1941 by Arturo di Filippi
- Opera Guild, Inc. of Fort Lauderdale, originally formed in 1945
FGO stages productions at the Sanford and Dolores Ziff Ballet Opera House, located in the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts in Miami, and also at the Au-Rene Theater at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts in Fort Lauderdale. From 1951 until 2006, the company's home theater was the Dade County Auditorium in Miami.
Under the name of "Greater Miami Opera", Emerson Buckley was the company's music director from 1950 to 1973, and then served as artistic director and principal conductor through 1986.[1] Willie Anthony Waters, who had become chorus master of the company in 1982[2], then served as music director from 1986 through 1992[3] and principal conductor from 1992 to 1995.[4]
FGO's current General Director is Robert Heuer, who joined FGO as Director of Production in 1979 and became General Director in 1985. He is scheduled to retire from FGO after the 2012-2013 season.[5] Stewart Robertson was FGO music director from 1997 to 2010. Ramon Tebar was named FGO's next music director in March 2011, and formally assumed the post on 1 June 2011.[6] Andrew Bisantz currently serves as FGO's Resident Conductor, and John Keene is FGO's chorus director.
FGO's work in contemporary opera has included the world premieres of these operas:
- Robert Ward, Minutes Till Midnight (1982)
- Robert Ashley, Balseros (1997)
- David Carlson, Anna Karenina (2007)[7]
FGO has also staged the US premieres of Rossini's Bianca e Falliero and the final revised version of Alberto Franchetti's Cristoforo Colombo.
[edit] Music Directors (Greater Miami Opera and FGO)
- Emerson Buckley (1950-1973 [Music Director]; 1973-1986 [Artistic Director & Principal Conductor])
- Willie Anthony Waters (1986-1992 [Music Director]; 1992-1995 [Principal Conductor])
- James Judd (1993-1996)
- Stewart Robertson (1997-2010)
- Ramon Tebar (2011-present)
[edit] References
- ^ "Emerson Buckley, 73, An Opera Conductor". New York Times. 1989-11-20. http://www.nytimes.com/1989/11/20/obituaries/emerson-buckley-73-an-opera-conductor.html. Retrieved 2011-12-22.
- ^ Tim Smith (1992-05-17). "Troubled Waters At The Greater Miami Opera". Sun-Sentinel. http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1992-05-17/features/9202080995_1_greater-miami-opera-seven-years-complement. Retrieved 2011-12-24.
- ^ Tim Smith (1992-05-02). "Shake-ups At Miami Opera". Sun-Sentinel. http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1992-05-02/features/9202060159_1_artistic-director-chorus-master-greater-miami-opera. Retrieved 2011-12-24.
- ^ Tim Smith (1999-04-18). "Opera's Native Son Is Back". Sun-Sentinel. http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1999-04-18/entertainment/9904160777_1_florida-grand-opera-willie-anthony-waters-artistic-director. Retrieved 2011-12-24.
- ^ "Robert Heuer to Retire in May 2013" (Press release). Florida Grand Opera. 3 October 2011. http://www.pitchengine.com/floridagrandopera/robertheuertoretireinmay2013. Retrieved 2011-11-06.
- ^ Jan Sjostrom (2001-03-02). "Palm Beach Symphony’s music director accepts post at Florida Grand Opera". Palm Beach Daily News. http://www.palmbeachdailynews.com/arts/palm-beach-symphonys-music-director-accepts-post-at-1293280.html. Retrieved 2011-11-06.
- ^ Vivien Schweitzer (2007-04-30). "The Passions of Anna: A Period Opera Takes on a Love Triangle". The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/30/arts/music/30anna.html. Retrieved 2011-11-06.
