Center for Contemporary Opera

The Center for Contemporary Opera (CCO) is a professional opera company based in New York City, and a member of OPERA America. [ [http://www.operaamerica.org/about/membership/states/ny.asp OPERA America] Accessed 26 March 2008.] The company focuses on producing and developing new opera and music theater works and reviving rarely seen American operas written after the second World War. [Midgette, Ann, [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9806E7DC1F30F937A15752C0A9659C8B63&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=print 'Never Say Die In Indie Opera'] , "New York Times", January 24, 2003. Accessed 26 March 2008.] The Center for Contemporary Opera has staged the premieres of many works written during the latter half of the twentieth century. [Driscoll, F. Paul, [http://www.metoperafamily.org/operanews/_archive/897/LetsGetSmall.897.html 'Let's get small'] , "Opera News", August 1997. Accessed 26 March 2008.] Works are performed at all stages of development from readings to workshops to full productions on the professional stage. In line with its mission to promote an interest in new operatic and music-theater culture among the American public, the company presents panel discussions and colloquia, and publishes a bi-annual newsletter "Opera Today". [Chapel Hill Chamber of Commerce, [http://www.carolinachamber.org/news/full_story.html?id=942 Long Leaf Opera Executive Director named Center for Contemporary Opera Chief Executive Officer] , March 05, 2008. Accessed 26 March 2008.] Since 2004, the company has been a regular participant in the New York City Opera's annual festival, "Vox: Showcasing American Composers". [Tommasini, Anthony, [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9903EED91731F935A35755C0A9629C8B63&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=print If Operas Can Make It Here...] , "New York Times", June 6, 2004. Accessed 26 March 2008.]

The company was founded in 1982 by Richard Marshall, fomerly the head of the Charlotte Opera Association in North Carolina where he had commissioned, produced and conducted the world premiere of Robert Ward's "Abelard and Heloise". [Holland, Bernard, [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=940DE5D71138F93AA25751C0A96E948260&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=print 'An Opera Innovator Readies Britten Work'] , "New York Times", February 19, 1988. Accessed 26 March 2008.] [Jarvis, Craig, [http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-168983587.html Renowned composer, 90, is honored by his adopted state] , "The Charlotte Observer", September 23, 2007. Accessed via subscription 26 March 2008.] In March 2008, James E. Schaeffer, Executive Director of Long Leaf Opera Festival in Chapel Hill, North Carolina took over from Marshall as CEO. [ [http://www.longleafopera.org/page.php?mode=privateview&pageID=3 Long Leaf Opera Festival] Accessed 26 March 2008.] The composer, author and music critic Eric Salzman is the company's Associate Artistic Director. [Peyser, Joan, [http://www.metoperafamily.org/operanews/_archive/801/future.801.html Future Indefinite] , "Opera News", August 2001. Accessed 26 March 2008.] Its composer-in-residence is Michael Dellaira. [Sanrow, Nahma, [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=940DE1DE1430F937A25754C0A9649C8B63&scp=4&sq=Center+for+Contemporary+Opera&st=nyt Where Musicals and Opera Overlap, a Hybrid Emerges] , "New York Times", July 14, 2002. Accessed 26 March 2008.]

Notable premieres

Notable premieres performed by the Center for Contemporary Opera include:
*"Tomorrow and Tomorrow" by Timothy Sullivan (World Premiere 1987) [ [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9B0DEFD81138F933A05750C0A961948260&sec=&spon One Act by Sullivan] , "New York Times" March 30, 1987. Accessed 26 March 2008.]
*"Christopher Sly" by Dominick Argento (New York Premiere 1987) [Will Crutchfield, [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9B0DE3DC1330F934A15752C0A961948260&st=cse&sq=Dominick+Argento+&scp=2 Argento work: Christopher Sly] "New York Times", January 27, 1987. Accessed 26 March 2008.]
*"Insect Comedy" - Martin Kalmanoff and Lewis Allen (World Premiere, 1993) [James Oestreich, [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F0CE0DD173CF93AA15756C0A965958260&scp=2&sq=Insect+Comedy+&st=nyt 'The Insect Comedy' Center for Contemporary Opera Hunter College] ,"New York Times", May 29, 1993. Accessed 26 March 2008.]
*"Transformations" by Conrad Susa and Anne Sexton (New York Premiere, 1996)
*"Summer" by Stephen Paulus and Joan Vail Thorne (New York Premiere, 1998) [Kozinn, Allan, [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9A0DE4D8153FF932A15755C0A9649C8B63&scp=8&sq=Center+for+Contemporary+Opera&st=nyt An Edith Wharton Novella, Set to Music] , "New York Times", June 21, 2002. Accessed 26 March 2008.]
*"Sorry, Wrong Number" by Jack Beeson and Lucille Fletcher (World Premiere, 1999) [Tommasini, Anthony, [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9806E0DD1F31F93BA15756C0A96F958260&scp=1&sq=Beeson+Fletcher&st=nyt Two Familiar Tales in Unfamiliar Settings] , "New York Times", May 28, 1999. Accessed 26 March 2008.]
*"The Postman Always Rings Twice" by Stephen Paulus and Colin Graham (New York Premiere, 1998) [Holland, Bernard, [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D06EEDF1E3FF931A35754C0A96E958260&scp=1&sq=Stephen+Paulus++postman&st=nyt A Novel Of Lust Becomes An Opera] , "New York Times", July 2, 1998. Accessed 26 March 2008.]
*"KAFKA: Letter to My Father" by Stanley Walden (U. S. Premiere, 2000) [Holland, Bernard, [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=950DEFD81F30F933A05755C0A9669C8B63&scp=3&sq=Stanley+Walden+&st=nyt Giving a Face and a Voice to Kafka's Cruel Fantasy Father] , "New York Times", June 30, 2000. Accessed 26 March 2008.]
*"Doctor Faustus Lights the Lights" by Stanley Walden and Gertrude Stein (U.S. Premiere 2002) [Midgette, Ann [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9407E6DF1331F932A35750C0A9649C8B63&scp=1&sq=Doctor+Faustus+Lights+the+Lights++walden&st=nyt Doctor Faustus Lights the Lights] , "New York Times", March 1, 2002. Accessed 26 March 2008.]
*"La Priere du Loup" by Eric Salzman (U. S. Premiere, 2003)
*"Vera of Las Vegas" by Daron Hagen and Paul Muldoon (World Staged Premiere, 2003) [Tommasini, Anthony, [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F06EFDF153AF932A35754C0A9659C8B63&scp=1&sq=vera+las+vegas&st=nyt A Bevy of Eccentrics In a Dreaming Frenzy] , "New York Times", July 1, 2003.Accessed 26 March 2008.]
*"A More Perfect Union" by Victoria Bond and Isaiah Sheffer (World Premiere, 2004)" [Tommasini, Anthony, [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9903EED91731F935A35755C0A9629C8B63&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=print If Operas Can Make It Here...] , "New York Times", June 6, 2004. Accessed 26 March 2008.]
*"Mario and the Magician" by Francis Thorne and J.D. McClatchy (First professional performance 2005) [Jeremy Eichler, [http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/02/arts/music/02thor.html?scp=2&sq=Center+for+Contemporary+Opera&st=nyt Caught Under the Spell of Mann's Musical Magician] , "New York Times", May 2, 2005. Accessed 26 March 2008.]
*"Alice" by Peter Westergaard (World Premiere of work in progress 2006) [Tommasini, Anthony, [http://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/21/arts/music/21alic.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=Center+for+Contemporary+Opera&st=nyt&oref=slogin 'Alice in Wonderland,' by Peter Westergaard, With Bells and Whistles'] , "New York Times", June 21, 2006. Accessed 26 March 2008.]

Recording

*Francis Thorne: "Mario and the Magician" (Center for Contemporary Opera, Richard Marshall, conductor, Justin Vickers, Larry Small, Jessica Grigg, Wendy Brown, Richard Cassell) Albany Records TROY832

References

External links

* [http://www.conopera.org Center for Contemporary Opera] Official web site.
* [http://21stcentruryconductor.blogspirit.com/archive/2008/03/26/new-voices-carnegie-hall.html Blog on the last ConOp Carnegie Hall recital]