Orlando Opera

{{Short description|Professional opera company based in Orlando, Florida, United States}}

The Orlando Opera was a professional American regional opera company located in Orlando, Florida. Founded in 1958, the company ceased operations in 2009 because of financial problems.{{Cite news |last=Maupin |first=Elizabeth |date=23 March 2009 |title=Orlando Opera may have to abandon next season |url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2009/03/23/orlando-opera-may-have-to-abandon-next-season/ |access-date=11 April 2025 |work=Orlando Sentinel}} The opera performed multiple times a year in the Bob Carr Performing Arts Centre and other venues in the central Florida region. For many years, until its own demise, the Florida Symphony Orchestra was the orchestra for the Orlando Opera.{{Cite news |date=17 November 1985 |title=Sad italian tale takes wing in orlando performance |url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/1985/11/17/sad-italian-tale-takes-wing-in-orlando-performance/ |access-date=10 April 2025 |work=Orlando Sentinel}}{{Cite news |date=18 November 1990 |title=FSO Musicians are playing for time, Money |url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/1990/11/18/fso-musicians-are-playing-for-time-money/ |access-date=10 April 2025 |work=Orlando Sentinel}} The company ceased operations in 2009 because of financial problems.

History

Orlando Opera's origins can be traced to opera gala benefit concerts sponsored by the Florida Symphony Orchestra. On February 13, 1958, the Florida Symphony Orchestra and the Junior League of Orlando produced the first "Gala Night of Opera" concert. Florida Symphony Orchestra's then Music Director, Frank Miller was quoted "We are in the midst of the biggest season culturally in Central Florida, if not in Florida history."{{Cite news |last=Manes |first=Billy |date=10 September 2009 |title=The Opera is Dead. Long live the Opera |url=https://www.orlandoweekly.com/news/the-opera-is-dead-long-live-the-opera-2256312 |access-date=13 April 2025 |work=Orlando Weekly}} Eventually, the Junior League was replaced by an Opera Gala Guild formed with the support of the Florida Symphony Orchestra. During the company's early seasons, only concert arias were produced and then gradually staged opera scenes were performed. In 1979, Orlando Opera began presenting its own full opera productions.{{Cite book |last=Zietz |first=Karyl Lynn |title=Opera Companies and Houses of the United States A Comprehensive Illustrated Reference |date=15 October 2024 |publisher=McFarland & Company, Inc. |orig-year=1995 |isbn=9781476612034 |pages=73 |language=English}} The company typically presented three full opera productions per season.{{Cite news |date=30 May 1985 |title=new season of operas may feature subtitles |url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/1985/05/30/new-season-of-operas-may-feature-subtitles/ |access-date=10 April 2025 |work=Orlando Sentinel}}{{Cite book |last=Monaghan |first=Kelly |title=The Other Orlando What to do When You've Done Disney and Universal |publisher=Intrepid Traveler |year=2004 |isbn=9781887140508 |pages=277 |language=English}}

End of operations

The 51-year-old Orlando Opera did not survive the combined effects of the 2008-2009 Great Recession and its own longstanding financial problems related to significant budget deficits. On April 16, 2009, the company announced it would suspend all operations and close its doors due to poor economic conditions.{{Cite news |last=Abbott |first=Jim |date=25 June 2009 |title=United Arts to spend $200,000 to help opera survive in Orlando |url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2009/06/25/united-arts-to-spend-$200000-to-help-opera-survive-in-orlando/ |access-date=11 April 2025 |work=Orlando Sentinel |page=1}} The Orlando Opera's board of trustees voted to file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy on April 24, 2009. The company had one remaining liability, $200,000 received from subscribers for the canceled upcoming 2009-2010 season.{{Cite news |date=28 April 2009 |title=Orlando Opera to file for bankruptcy |url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2009/04/28/orlando-opera-to-file-for-bankruptcy/ |access-date=11 April 2025 |work=Orlando Sentinel |page=1}}

General Directors

Richard R. Owens
Robert Swedberg

Conductors

Frank Miller
Pavle Despalj{{Cite web |date=17 April 2025 |title=Despalj Pavle, F.C.A. |url=https://www.info.hazu.hr/en/clanovi/despalj-pavle/ |access-date=17 April 2025 |website=Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts}}
Alfred Savia, Music Director 1980-1983{{Cite web |date=15 April 2025 |title=Alfred Savia |url=https://www.alfredsavia.com/uploads/1/4/4/2/144297040/alfred_savia_resume_rev_1-23.pdf |access-date=15 April 2025 |website=Alfred Savia}}
Cornelius Eberhardt
William Huckaby{{Cite news |date=22 March 1987 |title=Drama makes strong showing in 'Susannah' |url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/1987/03/22/drama-makes-strong-showing-in-susannah/ |access-date=18 April 2025 |work=Orlando Sentinel}}
Anton Coppola
Karen Keltner{{Cite book |last=Hixon |first=Donald L. |title=Gian Carlo Menotti A Bio-Bibliography |date=28 February 2000 |publisher=ABC-CLIO |isbn=9780313095948 |edition=ebook |pages=68 |language=English}}

References

Category:Musical groups from Orlando, Florida

Category:American opera companies

Category:Companies that filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in 2009

Category:Companies that have filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy

Category:Musical groups established in 1958

Category:Musical groups disestablished in 2009

Category:1958 establishments in Florida

Category:2009 disestablishments in Florida