Gotham Chamber Opera was a professional opera company located in New York City. The company was founded in 2000 under the name of the Henry Street Chamber Opera by Artistic Director Neal Goren and specialized in producing rarely performed chamber operas from the Baroque era to the present. In 2003, it changed its name to the Gotham Chamber Opera (GCO) after incorporating as an independent 501(c)(3) organization . Its Executive Director was Edward Barnes , who took over from David Bennett. It closed in 2015.
26-828: The company first presented the American premiere of Mozart's Il sogno di Scipione (1771), staged by Christopher Alden in 2001 at the Playhouse at the Abrons Arts Center , a 350-seat theater on the New Yorks's Lower East Side . Soon after, the company produced a double bill of Henry Purcell 's Dido and Aeneas (1689) and Darius Milhaud 's Les malheurs d'Orphée [ sv ] (1924). Two more American premieres followed in November 2002 with Czech composer Bohuslav Martinů 's 1928 Dada opera, Les larmes du couteau ( Tears of
52-614: A co-production with the Lincoln Center Festival and Spoleto Festival USA , the company performed Ottorino Respighi 's fantastical La bella dormente nel bosco ( Sleeping Beauty in the Woods ), featuring the puppetry of Basil Twist . In the spring of 2006, Benjamin Britten 's only comedy, Albert Herring , received its first professional staging in New York in more than 30 years, and in
78-542: A foul storm. He reawakes in the kingdom of Massinissa, feeling the presence of Constanza beside him. The moral behind his dream was a hymn of praise to the eternal virtues offered by heaven, a model for all those who believe in God. In the final scene Licenza praises Scipio's choice and explains that the real protagonist of the play is not Scipio, but the dedicatee – Prince-Archbishop Hieronymus von Colloredo . Notes Sources Opera Philadelphia Opera Philadelphia
104-641: A retelling of the Ariadne myth through the music of Monteverdi , Haydn , and Schoenberg . And in 2009, Mark Morris directed the U.S. stage premiere of Haydn's L'isola disabitata . Gotham presented Haydn's Il mondo della luna at the Hayden Planetarium of the American Museum of Natural History in January 2010. The production, staged by Diane Paulus , featured NASA -generated moon travel projections on
130-700: Is an American opera company based in Philadelphia , Pennsylvania . Formerly known as the Opera Company of Philadelphia , the company is the only artistic company in Philadelphia that produces grand opera . The company produces one festival in September (Festival O) and additional operas in the spring season, encompassing works from the 17th through the 21st century. The company stages productions at Academy of Music in Philadelphia. The Opera Company of Philadelphia
156-422: Is based on the book Somnium Scipionis by Cicero ; Metastasio's libretto [ de ] has been set to music several times. Mozart had originally composed the work at the age of 15 for his patron, Prince-Archbishop Sigismund von Schrattenbach . After the bishop's death before it could be performed, Mozart dedicated it to Schrattenbach's successor, Count Colloredo . It was given a private performance in
182-726: Is complete, because it is not accompanied by suffering; he points to the Earth, small and miserable and covered in cloud, the home of mad misguided people, indifferent to other's pain. Aghast at the sight of the Earth, Scipio begs his father to be allowed to remain in the eternal land. However, he is told by Publius that he has a great mission to complete on Earth – to destroy an enemy, after making his choice between Constanza and Fortuna. Scipio asks Fortuna what kind of help she can offer him in completing his task. She tells him of her power to destroy and create, to corrupt innocence and empower evil. Who can resist her? Constanza says that only she can bestow
208-451: Is inaudible to mortals on earth. Constanza explains that this is due to the inadequacy of their senses; looking at the sun, they see only the glare, whilst hearing a waterfall, they know nothing of its destructive power. Scipio then asks who dwells in this eternal world. Fortuna indicates an approaching cortege – heroes, his forefathers, Rome's greatest sons. Scipio sees the dead Publius and asks if dead heroes live here. Publius assures him that
234-807: The Archbishop's Palace in Salzburg on 1 May 1772 , although not in its entirety. Only one aria , the final chorus and the recitative dedicating it to the new Prince-Archbishop were performed. It is highly unlikely that it was ever performed in its entirety in Mozart's lifetime. In January 1979, Il sogno di Scipione was exhumed for Mozart Week in Salzburg, where it was given a complete performance. The participants – Peter Schreier (Scipio), Lucia Popp (Costanza), Edita Gruberová (Fortuna), Claes-Håkan Ahnsjö (Publio), Thomas Moser (Emilio) and Edith Mathis (Licenza), with
260-604: The Knife ), and his 1935 Hlas lesa ( The Voice of the Forest ). After incorporating as a non-profit organization in 2003, the newly renamed Gotham Chamber Opera (GCO) presented the American premiere of Swiss composer Heinrich Sutermeister 's 1935 Die schwarze Spinne [ de ] ( The Black Spider ). Gotham's February 2005 production of Handel 's Arianna in Creta played to full houses and drew favorable reviews. That summer, in
286-602: The Salzburger Kammerchor and Mozarteum Orchestra Salzburg under Leopold Hager – then made the work's first recording, issued originally on a Deutsche Grammophon LP and reissued on CD in 1991 in the Philips Complete Mozart Edition . In 2001, Gotham Chamber Opera presented the U.S. stage premiere of Il sogno di Scipione at the Abrons Arts Center in New York City and presented a revival of
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#1733084633931312-470: The commission of a new American opera, Dark Sisters , composed by Nico Muhly with a libretto by Stephen Karam , to be conducted by Neal Goren, and directed by Rebecca Taichman . The world premiere took place in November 2011 at the Gerald W. Lynch Theater at John Jay College in New York, one of the first works to be presented at the theater following the creation of a new lobby at the space. Dark Sisters
338-403: The company's first general manager, and Carl Suppa became the company's first artistic director. All three individuals were largely responsible for arranging, planning, and executing the merger. In 1976 the company presented the world premiere of Gian Carlo Menotti 's The Hero . At the end of the 1977–1978 season both Leon and Suppa left the company. As a result, J. Edward Corn was appointed
364-574: The company's second general manager; subsequently Julius Rudel became an artistic consultant for the company. In 1980, Corn left the company to become the director of the National Endowment for the Arts ' new opera and musical theater program. Margaret Anne Everett, the OCP's director of educational and community services since 1977, was initially appointed the company's acting manager and then officially became
390-400: The company's third general manager. She remained in that position for fourteen years. In March 1990, Everett resigned from her post. Jane Grey Nemeth, director of the OCP's Luciano Pavarotti International Voice Competition at the time, became the company's acting general director. In January 1991, the company named Robert B. Driver its general director. In March 2009, the company announced
416-498: The kingdom of Massinissa, but now has no idea of where he is. Fortuna tells him that he is in the Temple of Heaven. The magnificent lights are the stars against the blue background of the universe. He can hear the music of the harmony of the spheres. Scipio asks who creates this harmony. Constanza replies that the power behind it moves the spheres like strings on a zither, finely tuned by hand and ear. Scipio responds by asking why this sound
442-409: The light of immortality resurrects the body, freeing it from the burden of mortality. He who has thought of, felt for and devoted himself to others will live forever; those who have lived only for themselves are not deserving of immortality. Scipio goes to seek his father. He is delighted to find him, but surprised when it appears that this joy is not mutual. His father Emilio tells him that joy in heaven
468-655: The planetarium's 360-degree dome. In October 2010, GCO with Tectonic Theater Project presented the U.S. premiere of Xavier Montsalvatge 's El gato con botas [ es ] ( Puss in Boots ). The production was directed by Moisés Kaufman , with bunraku puppetry by the Blind Summit Theatre of London. The opera premiered at the New Victory Theater in New York City. In November 2010, Gotham Chamber Opera, Music-Theatre Group and Opera Philadelphia announced
494-480: The power of loyalty. Fortuna cannot go beyond the limits dictated by Constanza. Virtue can only occasionally be defeated by violence, while evil deeds, unlike good ones, are transient. Fortuna can manage rare strikes, but cannot deprive heroes of hope and faith. Thus Scipio chooses Constanza, braving Fortuna's anger unafraid, because the eternal kingdom is dearer to his heart. Fortuna, furious, calls plagues down as vengeance on Scipio. He however keeps his courage through
520-513: The return of Driver to the post of artistic director, and the appointment of David B. Devan, OCP's managing director since January 2006, as the OCP's executive director. Devan was appointed general director in February 2011. Devan announced that he will step down in June 2024. In 2013, the company renamed itself Opera Philadelphia and adopted a new logo. In August 2023, the company announced that Devan
546-408: The sleeping Scipio and offer to accompany him through life. However, first he has to choose between Fortuna, the provider of the world’s good things, and the reliable, trustworthy Constanza. Scipio asks for time to think. Neither in his heart nor mind can he take in what has happened, nor can he choose. Fortuna and Constanza permit him to ask questions: he wants to know where he is. He fell asleep in
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#1733084633931572-421: The winter of 2007, Rossini 's Il signor Bruschino received its first major professional New York staging in more than half a century. In the 2007/08 season, the company presented New York City's first staged production of Astor Piazzolla 's 1968 tango opera María de Buenos Aires , as well as Scenes of Gypsy Life , a fully staged evening of song cycles by Janáček and Dvořák , and Ariadne Unhinged ,
598-623: The work in April 2012 at the Gerald W. Lynch Theater in New York City as part of their tenth anniversary program. Judith Weir 's 1991 chamber opera , Scipio's Dream , is based on Il sogno di Scipione with an adaptation of the original Metastasio libretto and a re-composition of the score which was cut to around one fifth of its length; it was recorded and broadcast by the BBC in a performance by Vocem and Endymion, conducted by Andrew Parrott , directed by Margaret Williams . Fortuna and Constanza approach
624-409: Was a member of the professional organization OPERA America . On October 1, 2015, Gotham Chamber Opera announced it would close due to previously undiscovered debts. Notes Sources Il sogno di Scipione Il sogno di Scipione , K. 126 , is a dramatic serenade in one act ( azione teatrale ) composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart to a libretto by Pietro Metastasio , which
650-792: Was also presented in June 2012 as part of Opera Philadelphia's chamber opera series at the Perelman Theater in the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts . Gotham scheduled two workshops and orchestra readings, in November 2010 and March 2011, for the new work. Gotham Chamber Opera included appearances on WNYC , displays at Bergdorf Goodman and Prada SoHo , annual collaborations with the Gagosian Gallery , and performances in various Manhattan venues. The company's activities also included school residencies, workshops, and free rehearsals. GCO
676-648: Was established in 1975 with the merger of the Philadelphia Lyric Opera Company (PLOC) and the Philadelphia Grand Opera Company (PGOC); two organizations which had competed with one another for many years. Adele W. Paxson , who headed the PLOC, was appointed the first president of the company's board, a position she held for many years. Max Leon , conductor and general manager of the PGOC, became
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