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The History of Opera in Rochester
In 1999, Opera Theatre of Rochester became a division of the Rochester Broadway Theatre League and changed its name to Opera Rochester. Productions continued at the Auditorium Theatre, at Kodak’s Theatre on the Ridge, and the Eastman Theatre. Primarily for expense reasons, more touring operas were introduced and fewer operas were produced in Rochester using local resources. Some singers who had been performing in the chorus wanted to continue to rehearse and perform together, and formed a new company called Rochester Opera Factory, which was primarily an opera chorus. Rochester Opera Factory was incorporated in 1999 and had its first performance with the Genesee Symphony in Batavia in December of 1999. The group of local singers, a combination of voice professionals and non-professionals, had its first performance of opera choruses and ensembles in spring of 2000. Rochester Opera Factory performed concerts twice per season for several seasons, and then performed its first small production (Gilbert & Sullivan’s The Mikado) in June of 2002, using a small student orchestra as accompaniment and exclusively local singers. Performances of opera scenes and additional full opera productions followed.
Mercury Opera Rochester unites Opera Rochester, Rochester Opera Factory, and the Opera Theatre Guild of Rochester. In order to bring this union about, the boards of directors of Opera Rochester, Rochester Opera Factory, OTR Guild and the Rochester Fund for Opera were all invited to join the board of directors of Mercury Opera Rochester. These previously separate groups have been working together to implement the integrated mission of Mercury Opera Rochester.
Eastman Opera Theatre will continue to produce operas with Eastman students, although the Eastman School of Music has agreed that it is in the best interest of opera and all involved to share resources with Mercury – singers, costumes, staff, information, and facilities. The Friends of Eastman Opera Theatre, whose mission is to support Eastman students in a variety of ways, has pledged to support the efforts of Mercury Opera Rochester, and has committed to share information and work together in every way possible. The Rochester Fund for Opera has committed to support Mercury Opera Rochester financially within its capabilities. The mission of Mercury Opera Rochester is a combination of the missions of all of the uniting organizations. |
Over its 30-plus years of existence, Opera Theatre of Rochester had developed a reputation for very high quality regional opera. Rosenberg, a dynamo in her own right and woman of many varied talents, kept a firm hand on all expenses, raised money to support the company, and shrewdly cast all roles, frequently hiring a singer for a performance in 2-3 years for a minimal fee, only to have that singer be “discovered” and made famous in the interim prior to their appearance here. After her death in 1988 the company struggled without consistent leadership until Glenn West was hired as Executive Director in the early 1990s. Performances of some locally produced operas resumed and were supplemented by opera touring companies, and the schedule of several operas per season returned. A support organization, the Opera Theatre Guild of Rochester, was formed in 1992 with the guidance of Haskell Rosenberg (not a relative of Ruth Rosenberg) who was the Guild’s first President.
During this time, student opera productions were also being performed first by Eastman Opera Workshop and later by Eastman Opera Theatre at the Eastman School of Music, initially under the direction of Leonard Treash who joined the faculty in 1947. With support from the Eastman School of Music, the City of Rochester and later additionally Monroe County, Treash founded and directed Opera Under the Stars in 1953, producing operas during the summer months at Highland Bowl in the City's Highland Park. The operas were presented to the public without charge, and audiences of five thousand or more were frequent. Members of the Eastman faculty and the Philharmonic and Civic Orchestras constituted the accompanying orchestra. Among the soloists were students and, more frequently, alumni of Eastman's opera department. Two performances of each opera were scheduled; if rained out one night, the opera was postponed to the next. Opera Under the Stars performed three productions every summer until an unfortunate accident and ensuing subsequent liability claims forced the end of operations in 1976. Many Rochesterians remember fondly their first opera under the night sky at Highland Bowl.
Until the summer of 2005, there were two opera performing entities (Rochester Opera Factory and Eastman Opera Theatre), one impresario company (Opera Rochester), two fundraising and supporting organizations (Opera Theatre Guild of Rochester and Friends of Eastman Opera), and one small endowment fund (The Rochester Fund for Opera.) The groups agreed on a common goal--more opera and better opera in Rochester. Beginning in fall of 2003, representatives of these six groups met to determine how to return high-quality professional opera to Rochester.
After much discussion and hard bargaining, they agreed that three of the groups would merge into one vibrant company in order to bring excellent professional opera back to Rochester. Mercury Opera Rochester is that new company. This merger of missions and organizations is unique among American regional opera companies.