Chautauqua Opera has announced that President Michael Hill will step down from his position to pursue a new role in academia at Randolph-Macon College. Among Hill’s greatest achievements is the work with The Jefferson Project, which supports science-based solutions for the conservation of Chautauqua Lake. As part of that effort, Hill raised $7 million to support those efforts. He also {…}
Taylor Shay McNair has filed a complaint against the Chautauqua Institute. According to the New York State Division of Human Rights complaint, McNair alleges that the Chautauqua Institute unlawfully discriminated against her due to her race and gender and fired her from her position as a company manager. According to McNair, she was sexually harassed and intimidated and after going {…}
Michael Chioldi is asking audience members for Chautauqua Opera testimonials following the announcement that the opera company announced its was struggling financially. In a statement via social media, the baritone said, “Good morning everyone in FB Land. I am writing this morning with an urgent request as another one of our beloved institutions is in grave danger of being severely {…}
Chautauqua Opera and Institution has announced plans for its future as it continues to go through financial hardship. Per an official press statement, “like many performing arts organizations industry-wide, they are navigating challenges and uncertainties as the field emerges from the COVID-19 pandemic. This is a period of deep reflection about the future of opera in America, including at Chautauqua {…}
Chautauqua Opera is set to kick off its 2022 festival this July. This season’s repertory was originally announced back in 2020 but was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This article represents an updated version of that announcement with a full rundown of the casts. The season opens with Kamala Sankaram and Susan Yankowitz’s “Thumbprint.” The opera will star Samina {…}
Chautauqua Opera has announced its 2020 season, which will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the passage of the 19th Amendment with three main stage operas. “I’m thrilled that our 2020 season will feature such a unique trio of operas, each of which revolves around a powerful female figure who is fighting to forge her own path and have her voice {…}
The assortment of works on offer this weekend features a look at the United State’s most important document, a classic Shakespeare tale, a classic Bernstein work, a unique zarzuela, and a fascinating take on “The Greatest Opera of All Time.” Figaro 90210! – Chautauqua Opera Eric Einhorn directs this iconic adaptation of the famed opera. Jorge Parodi conducts a production {…}
Steven R. Osgood will stay on as general and artistic director of the Chautauqua Opera Company through the 2020 season. The company has announced a two-year contract with Osgood, following his “standout first three seasons.” Osgood is coming off performances of “The Turn of the Screw” at the Juilliard Opera and will lead the company’s 90th anniversary season this coming {…}
The Chautauqua Opera has announced its 2019 season, which is the company’s 90th Anniversary season. “The Chautauqua calendar is always a gigantic puzzle, and our 2019 plans are hugely disruptive—in a wonderful way. For the first time in decades we are engaging Guest Artists to spend the entire season at Chautauqua. Our collaboration with the Chautauqua Symphony is taking new forms, {…}
As July nears its end, we find new companies starting to open their doors to new productions. Meanwhile some of the mainstays of the last few weekends continue to offer up productions that are simply too good to overlook. Here are our top five picks for the weekend, in alphabetical order by company. Candide – Chautauqua Opera It’s Bernstein’s year, {…}
In what appears to be a trend this summer, Chautauqua Opera’s production of Donizetti’s classic opera buffa “Don Pasquale” was distinguished by its treatment of a non-title character, in this case the gorgeous lyric baritone of Kyle Pfortmiller as Dr. Malatesta. Under the direction of David Schweizer, Malatesta doesn’t just engineer the complicated ruse designed to unite lovers Norina (Laura {…}