May twelve, two thousand twenty-three (Chicago) — After a three-month nationwide search, the Chicago Opera Theater (COT) Board of Directors is pleased to announce that veteran artistic boss and stage director Lawrence Edelson has been named the following common director of the company, Chicago's foremost producer of new and reimagined opera currently launching its fiftieth Anniversary. Edelson will start his duties beginning July one, two thousand twenty-three, taking the reins Interim Common Director Meaghan Stainback Smallwood who'll continue to co-lead with Edelson through September one, two thousand twenty-three before returning to her previous role as COT's Director of Development. Smallwood has been managing the company since former Common Director Ashley Magnus departed Chicago in March.
"The Board look for committee, led by the Immediate Past Board President Henry Fogel, conducted a rigorous search, and we were privileged to meet many incredible candidates." said COT Board President Susan Irion. "Larry is an innovative boss in the opera field and lives COT's core values of artistic excellence, support of artists and diversity, and championing new works." "I've long admired Larry's vital contributions to opera, particularly through his work with American Lyric Theater," added COT Elizabeth Morse and Genius Music Director Lidiya Yankovskaya. "COT's collaborative workshop of The Life and Death(s) of Alan Turing with altitude in two thousand-nineteenth allowed the opera's creative team to sharpen the work that we ultimately premiered this spring to critical acclaim.
I'm looking forward to working with Larry in this new capacity as he brings his extensive experience and creative energy to Chicago." Lawrence Edelson is highly respected as a visionary company boss and stage director who's d programs in the areas of artist mentorship and new opera development that have served as models for opera companies across the country. In two thousand-fifth, Edelson founded American Lyric Theater (ALT), he serves as Artistic and Common Director — a position he'll continue as he joins Chicago Opera Theater as Common Director. At ALT, Edelson d the Composer Librettist Development Program (CLDP), the first multi-year professional mentorship initiative for emerging opera composers, librettists, and dramaturgs in the country, through which he's shepherded the development of over twenty operas. He was also responsible for initiating the Opera Writers Variety and Representation Initiative (OWDARI), for which he was recognized in two thousand twenty-first by Musical America as one of the Top thirty Professionals of the Year. 2014-two thousand twenty-two, Edelson served as Artistic and Common Director of Opera Saratoga concurrent with his leadership of ALT. During his tenure at Opera Saratoga, he was responsible for rebranding the organization, expanding the company's youthful artist program and creating new mentorship opportunities for conductors and directors, increasing community engagement and education programs year-round, and diversifying the repertoire produced.
His tenure at Opera Saratoga was marked by a significant expand in the company's artistic profile nationally, while simultaneously increasing income in all areas including an expand in individual giving by over two hundred fifty percent and an expand in ticket sales by over sixty%. As a stage director, Edelson began his career on the staff of Glimmerglass Opera, assisting the pioneering director and choreographer Rhoda Levine. He's since d original critically acclaimed productions of world premieres, American premieres, and revitalized works the traditional rule for companies across the country including Wolf Trap Opera, MN Opera, Fort Worth Opera, VA Opera, and Florida Opera. With his considerable artistic experience, Edelson will occasionally direct new productions for COT. "Chicago Opera Theater is one of the most innovative opera companies in the country, and COT's commitment to expanding the tradition of opera as a living art form resonates deeply with me," said Edelson. "I'm honored to connect this very special company as Common Director, and I'm particularly excited to relocate to Chicago — a city with a vibrant, diverse, and constantly evolving arts scene. I have seen first-hand the commitment and passion of the all team at COT, and I see forward to partnering with Lidiya Yankovskaya, the staff, and the Board to construct upon COT's extraordinary history and to forge dynamic plans for the future."
About Chicago Opera Theater
Celebrating its fiftieth Anniversary Season in two thousand twenty-third/twenty-four, Chicago Opera Theater is a company laser-focd on living its values: expanding the tradition of opera as a living art form, producing high-quality works new to Chicago audiences, identifying top-tier casts and creative talent at the beginning of operatic careers, and following through on commitments to equity and access — behind the scenes, on the stage, and in the audience. Since its founding in one thousand nine hundred seventy-third, COT has grown a grassroots community-based company to a national boss in an increasingly vibrant, diverse, and forward-looking art form. COT has staged over one hundred fifty-five operas, including eighty-one Chicago premieres and forty-seven operas by American composers. Founded in two thousand-eighteenth and celebrating its fifth anniversary this Spring, the Vanguard Initiative is COT's fully comprehensive program for composers prepared to delve into the world of opera culminating with the development of a full-length opera commissioned by the company.
Lidiya Yankovskaya is one of only two women to keep the title of music director at a multimillion-dollar opera company in the United States. Chicago Opera Theater's 2022/twenty-three season concludes with the Chicago Premieres of two one-act operas by Jake Heggie and Gene Scheer presented with COT partners Music of Remembrance. Another Sunrise and For a See or a Touch feature singers Ryan McKinny and Caitlin Lynch with actor Curt Branom on May twenty-seven at 7:30 p.m. and May twenty-eight at 3:00 p.m. at the Athenaeum Center, two thousand nine hundred thirty-six north Southport Avenue in Chicago's Lakeview neighborhood.
