Orlando Opera

The Orlando Opera was an American opera company located in Orlando, Florida. Founded in 1958, the company ceased operations in 2009 because of financial problems. 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.

History

The origins of Orlando Opera 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 as saying:

"We are in the midst of the biggest season culturally in Central Florida, if not in Florida history."

Eventually, an Opera Guild formed with the support of the Florida Symphony Orchestra replaced the Junior League. During the Opera Guild's early seasons, only concert arias were produced, and then gradually staged opera scenes were performed. In 1977, the Opera Guild became the Orlando Opera. In 1979, the Orlando Opera Co, Inc. was established as a non-profit corporation.

Performances

Early concerts under the sponsorship of the Florida Symphony Orchestra and the Junior League featured such singers as Placido Domingo, Jessie Norman and Beverly Sills. Roberta Peters appeared with the company in three different productions. In 1979, Orlando Opera began presenting its own full opera productions. By then, the company typically presented three full opera productions per season. In 1980, Luciano Pavarotti appeared before an audience of 11,000 at the Orange County Convention Center. In 1990, the company hired the striking musicians of the Florida Symphony Orchestra to ensure that the company's production of the Tales of Hoffman would include a full orchestra.

1991 Orlando Opera Program Excerpt

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 suspension of all operations due to poor economic conditions. 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.

General Directors

President & Chief Executive Officer

Conductors

References

  1. 1 2 Maupin, Elizabeth (23 March 2009). "Orlando Opera may have to abandon next season". Orlando Sentinel. Archived from the original on May 28, 2026. Retrieved 11 April 2025.
  2. 1 2 "Sad italian tale takes wing in orlando performance". Orlando Sentinel. 17 November 1985. Archived from the original on June 4, 2026. Retrieved 10 April 2025.
  3. ↑ "FSO Musicians are playing for time, Money". Orlando Sentinel. 18 November 1990. Retrieved 10 April 2025.
  4. 1 2 "Drama makes strong showing in 'Susannah'". Orlando Sentinel. 22 March 1987. Archived from the original on May 28, 2026. Retrieved 18 April 2025.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Manes, Billy (10 September 2009). "The Opera is Dead. Long live the Opera". Orlando Weekly. Archived from the original on May 26, 2026. Retrieved 13 April 2025.
  6. ↑ Smith, Ruth Gilbert (1975). The Florida Symphony Orchestra-A Silver Anniversary. Orlando Public Library (Downtown)-Fourth Floor; Call No.FLORIDA 785.062 Smi; Winter Park Library-Shelf Location: WP781.91 Smi: The Florida Symphony Society, Inc. Cowart's Rollins Press. pp. 38–39.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location (link)
  7. ↑ Noles, Randy (September 2025). "Milestones Orlando Arts Organizations Celebrate Significant Anniversaries, but None Rest on Their Laurels". United Arts Artistry (September/October 2025 Issue). Archived from the original on June 21, 2026 – via artistryonline.org. For that auspicious event, four stars of New York's Metropolitan Opera—soprano Lisa Della Casa, mezzo-soprano Elana Nikoliadi, tenor Richard Tucker and baritone Robert Merrill—appeared with the Florida Symphony Orchestra in a concert that the Orlando Sentinel called "one of the biggest musical events in the history of Central Florida."
  8. 1 2 3 Patteson, Jean (April 17, 2005). "Aida 1974-2005". Orlando Sentinel. Archived from the original on September 15, 2026. Retrieved January 17, 2026.
  9. 1 2 "Donation from firm helps opera program". Orlando Sentinel. June 30, 1985. Retrieved December 9, 2025.
  10. ↑ "Aida 1974-2005". Orlando Sentinel. April 17, 2005. Theater. Archived from the original on September 28, 2026. Retrieved September 28, 2026. There are fond mentions of key participants: Patrick Tavernia, stage director from the Metropolitan Opera; Pavel Despalj, leader of the Florida Symphony Orchestra; Edith Royal, choreographer; Rollins College professor Dale Amlund, who designed the set; and stylists Douglas Marvaldi and Sara Ringler. And then there are the Jessye Norman stories. The diva, who returns to Orlando to star in next season's opening gala Oct. 16, was just starting her climb to fame in 1974.
  11. ↑ Zietz, Karyl Lynn (15 October 2024) [1995]. Opera Companies and Houses of the United States A Comprehensive Illustrated Reference. McFarland & Company, Inc. p. 73. ISBN 9781476612034.
  12. ↑ "new season of operas may feature subtitles". Orlando Sentinel. 30 May 1985. Archived from the original on June 21, 2026. Retrieved 10 April 2025.
  13. ↑ Monaghan, Kelly (2004). The Other Orlando What to do When You've Done Disney and Universal. Intrepid Traveler. p. 277. ISBN 9781887140508.
  14. ↑ Fender, George S (October 7, 1987). "Clarifying a Point". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved September 24, 2026. The Orlando Opera Company purchases more services from the orchestra than any other Central Florida organization. Our payments to the Florida Symphony Orchestra amounted to almost $140,000 last season. No other organization used the symphony's services as much. We are, therefore, the symphony's partner in the performing arts in Central Florida.
  15. ↑ "'Hoffmann' will use striking FSO Players". Orlando Sentinel. November 11, 1990. Archived from the original on September 24, 2026. Retrieved September 24, 2026.
  16. ↑ Abbott, Jim (25 June 2009). "United Arts to spend $200,000 to help opera survive in Orlando". Orlando Sentinel. p. 1. Retrieved 11 April 2025.
  17. ↑ "Orlando Opera to file for bankruptcy". Orlando Sentinel. 28 April 2009. p. 1. Archived from the original on September 12, 2026. Retrieved 11 April 2025.
  18. ↑ Manes, Billy (June 25, 2009). "no refunds". Orlando Weekly. Archived from the original on May 28, 2026. Retrieved December 31, 2025. On April 16, the Orlando Opera's board of trustees voted to suspend its operations and file for bankruptcy. On May 6, the opera company sent subscribers a letter explaining that because of the recession, ticket sales had plunged, donors had defaulted on pledges and the usual contributions weren't coming in. They were given a choice: Either write off the money they'd just forked over for 2009-2010 season tickets as a charitable donation, or join a long list of creditors who might, one day, see a fraction of their money returned.
  19. ↑ Palm, Matthew J. (July 23, 2018). "Richard Owens, influential professor and former Orlando Opera manager dies at 86". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved December 9, 2025.
  20. 1 2 Patteson, Jean (April 4, 2007). "Shake up at opera surprises arts fans". Orlando Sentinel. Archived from the original on May 28, 2026. Retrieved December 9, 2025. ...Jim Ireland, who was hired as Orlando Opera's president and CEO in July.
  21. ↑ "Despalj Pavle, F.C.A." Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts. 17 April 2025. Retrieved 17 April 2025.
  22. ↑ "Preminuo Pavle Dešpalj: Ravnao je i Londonskom kraljevskom filharmonijom". Jutarni. 2021-12-17. Retrieved 2026-09-16.
  23. ↑ Alenka Bobinsky (2024-06-18). ""Kad god dirigiram i komponiram" - sjećanje na akademika Pavla Dešpalja". Glazba. Retrieved 2026-09-16.
  24. ↑ "Preminuo Pavle Dešpalj". HRT Magazin. 2021-12-17. Retrieved 2026-09-16.
  25. ↑ "Alfred Savia" (PDF). Alfred Savia. 15 April 2025. Retrieved 15 April 2025.
  26. ↑ "Soprano, Conductor bring emotion, life to La Boheme". Orlando Sentinel. February 18, 1990. Archived from the original on October 2, 2026. Retrieved October 2, 2026.
  27. ↑ Hixon, Donald L. (28 February 2000). Gian Carlo Menotti A Bio-Bibliography (ebook ed.). ABC-CLIO. p. 68. ISBN 9780313095948.