- Chelsea Opera
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Contents
History
Chelsea Opera was founded in April, 2004 by Leonarda Priore and Lynne Hayden-Findlay, both singers, who sought to create more performance opportunities within the tri-state area. Musical direction since inception has been provided by Conductor Carmine Aufiero. In 2008, the company named Michael Megliola as Resident Lighting Designer, Sean Tribble as Resident Set Designer, and Garry Ianco as Orchestral Contractor.
Chelsea Opera’s performances to date have included: Suor Angelica, Amahl and the Night Visitors, Cavalleria Rusticana, Pagliacci, Don Giovanni, Gianni Schicchi, The Ballad of Baby Doe, The Scarf, and The Bear. The company’s roster now exceeds 250 artists who have performed principal roles, sung in the ensemble, been involved in design/production, and played in the Chelsea Opera Chamber Orchestra (“COCO”). An encore production of Amahl and the Night Visitors was presented in November, 2009 and its first production of Le Nozze di Figaro was performed in June, 2010. Its November, 2010 production of Tom Cipullo’s Glory Denied, based on the oral biography of Tom Philpott, garnered an outstanding review from Allan Kozinn of The New York Times [1] and Opera News [2]. The next mainstage production – This is the rill speaking and his vocal chamber piece, Bermudas -- celebrates the 85th birthday of American composer Lee Hoiby. Plans for 2011-2012 include Gian Carlo Menotti’s The Medium, celebrating this composer’s 100th birthday, and Puccini’s Madama Butterfly, featuring tenor Daniel Rodriguez singing his first Lt. Pinkerton. Each season now includes multiple offerings within its concert series, Chelsea Opera presents… , a series of thematic concerts featuring the company’s principal singers and guest artists.
Funding
Chelsea Opera is an associate member of OPERA America. The company has received funding from the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council, the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs and the New York State Council on the Arts as well as from several private foundations including The Mary Duke Biddle Foundation, The Bettina Baruch Foundation, The Tow Foundation, The Banfi Vintners Foundation, The Barbara Bell Cumming Foundation, The Joyce Dutka Arts Foundation, The NYU Community Fund and Meet the Composer. Chelsea Opera is a WNYC Star Initiative recipient and was a recently awarded a media sponsorship from radio station WQXR. This will provide the company with on-air promotions on both New York City public radio stations, WNYC and WQXR. Chelsea Opera is also the recipient of a Google AdWords grant.
Notes and references
External links
- Chelsea Opera official website
- OPERA America
- New York City Department of Cultural Affairs
- New York State Council on the Arts
- Lower Manhattan Cultural Council
- Mary Duke Biddle Foundation
- The Banfi Vintners Foundation
- Tow Foundation
- Joyce Dutka Arts Foundation
- Meet the Composer
- Tom Cipullo official website
- Tom Philpott
- Glory Denied (the book)
Categories:- Non-profit organizations based in the United States
- Culture of New York City
- 2004 establishments in the United States
- New York opera companies
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