Opera Saratoga has announced that its general and artistic director Lawrence Edelson is set to step don at the end of 2022.

Edelson will remain in the position through the end of July, after which he is set to join The University of Houston as Professor of Practice; he will also become Artistic Director of The Moores Opera Center. He is also set to continue in his role as Artistic and General Director of American Lyric Theater.

During his tenure with the company, Edelson has grown Opera Saratoga to new fiscal and artistic heights that include several American and world premieres. Among the works to debut under his watch are “The Long Walk,” “The Witches of Venice,” “Ellen West,” and “Il Postino,” among others.

“When I first came to Saratoga Springs as a guest director in 2013, I fell in love with this community,” Edelson said in an official press statement, “and when I had the opportunity to join Opera Saratoga as Artistic and General Director the following year, I knew that I was about to embark on a very exciting journey. I truly could not have imagined how rewarding my time at Opera Saratoga would be. I have had some of the most meaningful experiences of my life during my time with the company, and I am deeply grateful to the artists, our entire staff, and our committed and generous supporters who make it possible for Opera Saratoga to contribute so vibrantly to the region year round.”

While the company’s Board of Directors undertakes its search for his successor, Edelson will serve as consultant to “ensure continuity.”