Toledo Opera
Encyclopedia
The Toledo Opera is an American opera company based in Toledo, Ohio
. Founded in 1959, the company's first General Director was Lester Freedman
with conductor Joseph Hawthorne
of the Toledo Symphony Orchestra
serving as Music Director. In 1960 Freedman founded the Dayton Opera
and for many years he led the two organizations simultaneously - an arrangement which cut down on production costs for both companies. In 1983 Freedman was forced out of his position by the Toledo Opera's board after several years of financial problems and in-fighting among the company's leadership. Several interim directors kept the company going over the next three years, including David Bamberger and Johan van der Merwe.
In 1986 conductor James Meena became the company's new permanent director. In 1994 a major financial boon was given to the company by Toledo philanthropists Theodore and Lucille Gorski who gave a 1 million dollar challenge grant to the company which enabled them to establish an endowment for the organization. That same year the company played a major role in supporting the renovation of the historic Valentine Theatre
in Toledo, a decision which saved the theater from demolition. The renovations of the theater took several years, and Toledo Opera could not move into its new permanent home until 1999. The company had the honor of opening the newly renovated theater for Toledo Opera's 40th Season gala night on October 22, 1999 with a production of Giacomo Puccini
's Tosca
, featuring Diana Soviero
in the title role.
In 2000 Renay Conlin succeeded Meena as the director of Toledo Opera after he left to become director of Opera Carolina
. Her husband, Thomas Conlin, is a Grammy Award
winning conductor who conducted several operas for Toledo Opera during his wife's tenure.
In March of 2011, Conlin suddenly resigned from Toledo Opera, to take a position as CEO of the Napa Valley Museum in California. Her departure followed the mass resignation of members of the Toledo Opera board's financial committee (including the Gorskis, see above), who alleged that the company had "serious problems with cash-flow shortages" and had "earned a reputation in the community for not paying its bills."
Within a few weeks, the Opera's board of directors appointed a former development director, Suzanne Rorick, as Toledo Opera's new Executive Director. Under Rorick's leadership, the company has focused on fundraising to pay off existing debt, and has undergone an artistic re-organization that saw the return of several former Toledo Opera colleagues, including James Meena, who will conduct the opening opera of the 2011-2012 season, Verdi's La traviata
.
Toledo, Ohio
Toledo is the fourth most populous city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Lucas County. Toledo is in northwest Ohio, on the western end of Lake Erie, and borders the State of Michigan...
. Founded in 1959, the company's first General Director was Lester Freedman
Lester Freedman
Lester Freedman was an American opera director. In 1959 he founded the Toledo Opera and in 1960 he founded the Dayton Opera. He led both organizations concurrently until 1981 when he resigned from his post in Dayton. In May 1983 he was fired from his position as director of the Toledo Opera after...
with conductor Joseph Hawthorne
Joseph Hawthorne
Joseph Campbell Hawthorne was an American conductor, violinist, violist, and military officer. Born in Provincetown, Massachusetts, he was the son of artists Charles Webster Hawthorne and Ethel "Marion" Campbell. After receiving his childhood education at the Brooklyn Friends School, he entered...
of the Toledo Symphony Orchestra
Toledo Symphony Orchestra
Toledo Symphony Orchestra is a symphony orchestra in Toledo, Ohio. It's the biggest "musical resource for the region". They perform in Ohio, Michigan, and Indiana...
serving as Music Director. In 1960 Freedman founded the Dayton Opera
Dayton Opera
Dayton Opera is an American opera company based in Dayton, Ohio. The company makes its home at the Schuster Center in downtown Dayton where it annually produces three operas and an operatic concert and has an annual budget of approximately $2 million...
and for many years he led the two organizations simultaneously - an arrangement which cut down on production costs for both companies. In 1983 Freedman was forced out of his position by the Toledo Opera's board after several years of financial problems and in-fighting among the company's leadership. Several interim directors kept the company going over the next three years, including David Bamberger and Johan van der Merwe.
In 1986 conductor James Meena became the company's new permanent director. In 1994 a major financial boon was given to the company by Toledo philanthropists Theodore and Lucille Gorski who gave a 1 million dollar challenge grant to the company which enabled them to establish an endowment for the organization. That same year the company played a major role in supporting the renovation of the historic Valentine Theatre
Valentine Theatre
The Valentine Theatre is located in Downtown Toledo, Ohio at the corner of Superior and Adams. The facility is 108 years old and has 901 seats. It is operated by the Toledo Cultural Arts Center, Inc...
in Toledo, a decision which saved the theater from demolition. The renovations of the theater took several years, and Toledo Opera could not move into its new permanent home until 1999. The company had the honor of opening the newly renovated theater for Toledo Opera's 40th Season gala night on October 22, 1999 with a production of Giacomo Puccini
Giacomo Puccini
Giacomo Antonio Domenico Michele Secondo Maria Puccini was an Italian composer whose operas, including La bohème, Tosca, Madama Butterfly, and Turandot, are among the most frequently performed in the standard repertoire...
's Tosca
Tosca
Tosca is an opera in three acts by Giacomo Puccini to an Italian libretto by Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa. It premiered at the Teatro Costanzi in Rome on 14 January 1900...
, featuring Diana Soviero
Diana Soviero
Diana Soviero is an American operatic soprano of international stature, a recipient of the Richard Tucker Award in 1979....
in the title role.
In 2000 Renay Conlin succeeded Meena as the director of Toledo Opera after he left to become director of Opera Carolina
Opera Carolina
Opera Carolina is a professional opera company located in Charlotte, North Carolina. The company reaches over 75,000 people from North Carolina and South Carolina....
. Her husband, Thomas Conlin, is a Grammy Award
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
winning conductor who conducted several operas for Toledo Opera during his wife's tenure.
In March of 2011, Conlin suddenly resigned from Toledo Opera, to take a position as CEO of the Napa Valley Museum in California. Her departure followed the mass resignation of members of the Toledo Opera board's financial committee (including the Gorskis, see above), who alleged that the company had "serious problems with cash-flow shortages" and had "earned a reputation in the community for not paying its bills."
Within a few weeks, the Opera's board of directors appointed a former development director, Suzanne Rorick, as Toledo Opera's new Executive Director. Under Rorick's leadership, the company has focused on fundraising to pay off existing debt, and has undergone an artistic re-organization that saw the return of several former Toledo Opera colleagues, including James Meena, who will conduct the opening opera of the 2011-2012 season, Verdi's La traviata
La traviata
La traviata is an opera in three acts by Giuseppe Verdi set to an Italian libretto by Francesco Maria Piave. It is based on La dame aux Camélias , a play adapted from the novel by Alexandre Dumas, fils. The title La traviata means literally The Fallen Woman, or perhaps more figuratively, The Woman...
.