Opera Orchestra of New York

The Opera Orchestra of New York (also known as OONY) specializes in the performance of opera in concert form. It is particularly known for its work in presenting rarely performed repertory. Among the numerous American premieres it has presented are Puccini's Edgar, Boito's Nerone, and Smetana's Libuše.

History

Carnegie Hall, OONY's performance venue

Founded in 1971 by Eve Queler, who remains its conductor and music director, the orchestra presented its first season in 1972 with two operas – Rossini's William Tell and Meyerbeer's L'africaine – performed at New York's Carnegie Hall. Since then it has gone on to present more than ninety different operas there, with the season now consisting of three to four operas, which are also broadcast on National Public Radio. In the past, tickets came with a complete libretto of the opera being performed. However, the 2007/2008 season introduced surtitles for the first time.

Financial difficulties in early 2007 threatened to close the company or severely curtail its 2007/2008 season to one opera. However, these were overcome, and the 2007/2008 season of three operas opened as planned on 13 December 2007 with Verdi's I due Foscari. An additional Gala concert celebrating Eve Queler's 100th performance conducting the orchestra at Carnegie Hall was presented in March 2008. In 2011, The New York Times reported that the orchestra under new musical director Alberto Veronesi had returned to financial stability.

Many prominent opera singers have performed with the orchestra including Plácido Domingo, Nicolai Gedda, Gabriela Beňačková, Montserrat Caballé, Carlo Bergonzi, Renata Scotto, Alfredo Kraus, José Carreras, Dmitri Hvorostovsky, Bryan Hymel, Angela Meade, Jennifer Larmore, Samuel Ramey, James Morris, Angela Gheorghiu, Roberto Alagna, Jonas Kaufmann, Mignon Dunn, Grace Bumbry and Ghena Dimitrova, many of them in the very early stages of their careers. (José Carreras made his OONY debut in 1972 on his twenty-fourth birthday.)

In 1978, the Opera Orchestra of New York instituted a Young Artists Program to train and showcase young singers. Participants sing small roles in the Carnegie Hall performances and understudy the principal ones. Notable past participants in the program include Renée Fleming, Vivica Genaux and Deborah Voigt.

Performance

2000s

2016

• May: Donizetti – Parisina d'Este: Meade, Blake, Vemic, Wang

2014

• June: Donizetti -Roberto Devereux: Devia, Costello, Chauvet, Kapusta

2012–2013

• Jan: Giordano – Andrea Chénier: Alagna, Petean, Pershall, Feinstein, Lamanda
• Apr: Verdi – I Lombardi: Fabiano, Meade, Short, Baetge, Cedel, Baldwin, et al.

2011–2012

• Nov: Cilèa – Adriana Lecouvreur: Gheorghiu, Kaufmann, Maestri, Rachvelishvili
• Jan: Wagner – Rienzi: Storey, Matos, Chauvet, DeVine, Cedel, et al.

2010–2011

• Oct: Mascagni – Cavalleria rusticana: Alagna, Guleghina, Dunn, Almaguer, Swann
• Oct: Massenet – La Navarraise: Alagna, Garanca, Abdrazakov, Savage, Kontes, McGee
• Mar: Meyerbeer – L'Africaine: Giordani, Taigi, Dehn, Mvinjelwa

2008–2009

• Oct: Rimsky-Korsakov – The Tsar's Bride: Borodina, Makarina, Markov, Manucharyan, Stamboglis, Easterlin, Nance, Miller, Stepanov, Sullivan, McGee

2007–2008

• Dec: Verdi – I due Foscari: DiGiacomo, Gavanelli, Grooms, Machado, Lagundino, Lugo, Orsalak
• Feb: Bellini – La Sonnambula: Gutié;rrez, Korchak, Furlanetto, Caballero, Garcia, Kontes, Grooms
• April: Puccini – Edgar: Giordani, Larmore, Moore, Gaertner, Guagliardo

2006–2007

• Nov: Donizetti – Dom Sébastien: Kasarova, Korchak, Powell, Gaertner, Williams
• Jan: Rossini- Otello: Donose, Ford, Tarver, McPherson
• Feb: Cilèa – L'Arlesiana: Cornetti, Filianoti, Moore, Risinger, Lee

2005–2006

• Nov: Rossini – William Tell: Blasi, Giordani, Chingari
• Feb: Delibes – Lakmé: Gutiérrez, Manucharyan, Morris
• May: Montemezzi – L'Amore Dei Tre Re: Bravo, Casanova, Ramey

2004–2005

• Nov: Puccini – La Fanciulla del West: Millo, Tanner, Chingari
• April: Thomas – Mignon: Gutiérrez, Blythe, Aldrich, Giordano, Relyea
• June: Weber – Der Freischütz: Margiono, Moon, Studebaker, Kowaljow

2003–2004

• Dec: Donizetti – Anna Bolena: Stoyanova, Larmore, Aldrich, Manucharyan, Morris
• Mar: Verdi – Il Corsaro: Dragoni, Potenza, Casanova, Liao
• April: Ponchielli – La Gioconda: Millo, Kitic, Nadler, Giordani, Golesorkhi, Faria

2002–2003

• Oct: Bizet – Les Pêcheurs de Perles: Takova, Shtoda, Chaignaud, Faria
• April: Verdi – Attila: Flanigan, Casanova, Liao, Ramey
• May: Rossini – La donna del lago: Swenson, Blythe, Fowler, Zeffiri, Youngblood

2001–2002

• Nov: Verdi – La Battaglia di Legnano: Stoyanova, Wood, Casanova, Guelfi, Kowaljow
• Mar: Cilèa – Adriana Lecouvreur: Millo, Ernest, Stewart, Zajick, Giordani, Laciura, Golesorkhi
• April: Donizetti – Marino Faliero: Blancas, Bernhardt, Blake, Liao, Relyea

2000–2001

• Mar: Donizetti – La Favorita: Larmore, Gilbert, Kunde, Hvorostovsky, Kowaljow
• April: Meyerbeer – Les Huguenots: Stoyanova, Makarina, Zifchak, Giordani, Simpson, Faria
• May: Donizetti – Maria Stuarda: Swenson, Flanigan, Matos, Kunde, Liao, Carfizzi

1990s

1999–2000

• Oct: Bellini – I Capuleti e i Montecchi: Massis, Kasarova, Kunde, Carfizzi, Cokorinos
• Nov: Donizetti – Adelia: Devia, Mok, Pyatnychko, Plishka
• Feb: Donizetti – Lucrezia Borgia: Fleming, Blythe, Giordani, Peterson
• May: Verdi – Otello: Esperian, Kitic, Bergonzi/Barasorda, Zhang, Gazale, Plishka

1998–1999

• Mar: Verdi – I Masnadieri: Wolf, Nagore, Hvorostovsky, Plishka, Konstantinov
• April: Halévy – La Juive: Papian, Makarina, Casanova, Viala, Plishka
• May: Bellini – La Sonnambula: Swenson, Tapia, Wood, Kunde, Relyea

1997–1998

• Nov: Rossini – Tancredi: O'Flynn, Kasarova, Poretsky, Wood, Breault, Boutros
• Feb: Verdi – Jerusalem: Valayre, Ikaia-Purdy, Simpson
• May: Donizetti – Poliuto: Rowland, Armiliato, Meoni, Alberghini

1996–1997

• Jan: Rossini – La Cenerentola: Genaux, Makarina, Wood, Fowler, G. Quilico
• Feb: Wagner – Tristan und Isolde: Connell, Lang, Siukola, Ryerson, Breault, Brainerd
• April: Verdi – Ernani: Anderson, Margison, Guelfi, Plishka

1995–1996

• Dec: Bellini- Norma: Eaglen, Ganassi, Furdui, di Renzi, Anisimov, Moore
• April: Rossini – Armida: Fleming, Kunde, Fowler
• May: Verdi – Giovanna d'Arco: Anderson, Grigorian, Moore, Guelfi, Owens

1994–1995

• Feb: Massenet – Hérodiade: Fleming, Bumbry, Keyes, Del Campo
• Mar: Rimsky-Korsakov – The Tsar's Bride: Focile, Borodina, Uhlenhopp, Leiferkus, Plishka
• May: Bellini – I Puritani : Devia, Wood, Kunde, Guelfi, Peterson

1993–1994

• Dec: Donizetti – Linda di Chamounix: Esposito, Poretsky, Sabbatini, Frontali, Heimann, Plishka
• Feb: Bellini – I Capuleti e i Montecchi: Devia, Larmore, Gimenez, Spagnoli, Robbins
• Mar: Donizetti – Caterina Cornaro: Rowland, d'Auria, Bruson, Colombara

1992–1993

• Feb: Bellini – La Straniera: Fleming, Liang, Kunde, Laperriere
• Apr: Donizetti – Anna Bolena: Vaness, Scalchi, Sonnenberg, de la Mora, Plishka
• May: Tchaikovsky – Mazeppa: Anderson, Grunewald, Grigorian, Leiferkus, Plishka

1991–1992

• Jan: Boieldieu – La Dame Blanche: Fleming, Uecker, Swensen, Charbonneau, Castel (Narrator)
• Mar: Wagner – Rienzi: Pick-Hieronimi, Graham, Goldberg
• Apr: Verdi – I Due Foscari: Rowland, Short, Villa, Chernov

1990–1991

• Jan: Donizetti – Roberto Devereux: Rowland, Zambalis, de la Mora, Chernov
• Feb: Bellini – La Sonnambula: Anderson, Keith, Gimenez, Plishka
• Mar: Weber – Der Freischütz: Behrens, Giering, Heppner, Rahming, Sotin

1980s

1989–1990

• Jan: Verdi – I Vespri Siciliani: S. Dunn, Brubaker/Glassman, Bruson, Plishka
• Feb: Tchaikovsky – Maid of Orleans: Martin, Zajick, Kulko, Hynninen, Koptchak, Nikolsky
• April: Catalani – La Wally: Millo, Kotoski, Johannsson, Manuguerra

1988–1989

• Oct: Bellini – Beatrice di Tenda: Anderson, Zseller, Kiurkciev, Tumagian
• Jan: Giordano – Fedora: Marton, Blackwell, Todisco, Serrano
• Mar: Bellini – Il Pirata: Millo, Liang, Morino, Croft

1987–1988

• Feb: Meyerbeer – Robert le Diable: Mims, Ginsberg, Merritt, Laciura, Ramey
• Mar: Giordano – Andrea Chénier: Millo, Bean, Polozov, Laciura
• Mar: Janáček – Jenufa: Benacková, Rysanek, Ochman, Kazaras

1986–1987

• Jan: Verdi – La Battaglia di Legnano: Millo, Malagnini, Manuguerra, Hines
• Feb: Wagner – Ring Cycle final scenes: Marton, Bean, Goldberg, McFarland, Roloff
• May: Dvořák – Rusalka: Benacková, Kelm, Jenkins, Koptchak

1985–1986

• Jan: Verdi – I Lombardi: Millo, Ginsberg, Bergonzi, Di Domenico, Plishka
• Mar: Smetana – Libuše: Benacková, Roark-Strummer, Zitek, Plishka
• May: Ponchielli – La Giaconda: Dimitrova, Milcheva, Curry, Lamberti, Cappuccilli, Plishka

1984–1985

• Oct: Glinka – A Life for the Tsar: Markova, Wenkel, Merritt, Talvela
• Nov: Rossini – William Tell: Evstatieva, Lopardo, Cappuccilli, Bonisolli
• April: Lalo – Le Roi d'Ys: Hendricks, Ciurca, Raffalli, Vento

1983–1984

• Nov: Strauss, R. – Die Liebe der Danae: Plowright, Blackwell, Ulfung, Kazaras, Roloff
• Mar: Donizetti – Dom Sébastien: Takacs, Leech, Miller, Koptchak
• May: Verdi – Nabucco: Dimitrova, Schuman, Pinto, Monk, Plishka

1982–1983

• Oct: Donizetti – Il Duca d'Alba: Krilovici, Gonzalez, Manuguerra
• Jan: Strauss, R. – Guntram: Tokody, Goldberg, Roloff, Wimberger
• May: Berlioz – Benvenuto Cellini: Devia, Boozer, Gedda, Lafont, Vento

1981–1982

• Oct: Verdi – I Due Foscari: Castro-Alberty, Bergonzi, Bruson, Albert
• Feb: Wagner – Rienzi: Massey, Payer, Warner, Hamari, Albert, Johns, Poole, Behl
• Mar: Wagner – Rienzi: Evans, Hamari, Johns
• April: Boito – Nerone: Andrade, Takács, Cigoj, Elvira, Morris

1980–1981

• Mar: Mussorgsky – Khovanshchina: Alexieva, Toczyska, Kazaras, Gulyas, Mroz, Monk, Plishka
• April: Delibes – Lakmé: Devia, Spacagna, Gedda, Plishka
• June: Mercadante – Il Giuramento: Zampieri, Martin, Baltsa, Gulyas, Edwards

1970s

1979–1980

• Feb: Massenet – Hérodiade: Verdejo, Greevy, Estes, Pons, Plishka
• Mar: Donizetti – Lucrezia Borgia: Ricciarelli, Gonzalez, Manuguerra
• April: Wagner – Rienzi: Payer, Hamari, Sooter

1978–1979

• Feb: Janáček – Kátya Kabanová: Benacková, Kniplová, Lewis, Evitts, Chudy
• April: Verdi – Aroldo: Caballé, Cecchele, Pons
• May: Bellini – I Capuleti e i Montecchi: Putnam, Troyanos, Tenzi, Robbins, Martinovich

1977–1978

• Feb: Weber – Oberon: Jones, Hamari, Gedda, West
• Mar: Rossini – Tancredi: Ricciarrelli, Balthrop, Horne, Paunova, Palacio, Zaccaria

1976–1977

• Jan: Smetana – Dalibor: Sormova, Kubiak, Gedda, Monk, Plishka
• April: Puccini – Edgar :Scotto, Killebrew, Bergonzi, Sardinero

1975–1976

• Jan: Berlioz – Lélio: Scotto, Aler, Burchinal, Madden (Narrator)
• Mar: Massenet – Le Cid: Bumbry, Bergquist, Domingo, Gardner, Voketaitis, Plishka
• Mar: Donizetti – Gemma di Vergy: Caballé, Lima, Quilico, Plishka

1974–1975

• Feb: Verdi – I Masnadieri: Trombin, Lewis, Manuguerra, Plishka
• Feb: Donizetti – La Favorita: Hendricks, Verrett, Kraus, Elvira, Morris

1973–1974

• Jan: Bizet: Les Pêcheurs de Perles: Eda-Pierre, Gedda, Bruson, West
• Mar: Donizetti – Parisina d'este: Caballé, Pruett, Quilico, Morris

1972–1973

• Dec: Verdi – I Lombardi: Scotto, Carreras, Marini, Plishka
• Mar: Zandonai – Francesca da Rimini: Kabaivanska, Domingo, Manuguerra

1971–1972

• Mar: Rossini – William Tell: Barlow, Toscano, Walker/Lo Monoco, Quilico, Morris
• April: Meyerbeer – L'Africaine: Elgar, Stella, Tucker, Manuguerra

Recordings

• Gaetano Donizetti: Gemma di Vergy (Montserrat Caballé (Gemma di Vergy), Paul Plishka (Guido), Luis Lima (Tamas), Louis Quilico (Count di Vergy), Natalya Chudy (Ida), Mark Munkittrick (Rolando), Schola Cantorum (Hugh Ross, Director); Opera Orchestra of New York; Conductor: Eve Queler). World premiere recording, recorded live at Carnegie Hall (March 14, 1976). CBS/Sony
• Jules Massenet: Le Cid (Grace Bumbry (Chimene), Plácido Domingo (Rodrigo), Paul Plishka (Don Diego), Clinton Ingram (Don Arias), Theodre Hodges (Don Alonzo), Arnold Voketaitis (The Count de Gormas), Eleanor Bergquist (The Infanta), Jake Gardner (The King), Peter Lightfoot (The Moorish Envoy), John Adams (St. James), Byrne Camp Chorale (Bryne Camp, Director); Opera Orchestra of New York; Conductor: Eve Queler). World premiere recording, recorded live at Carnegie Hall (March 8, 1976). CBS/Sony
• Giuseppe Verdi: Aroldo (Montserrat Caballé (Mina), Gianfranco Cecchele (Aroldo), Juan Pons (Egberto), Louis Lebherz (Briano), Vincenzo Manno (Godvino), Paul Ragers (Enrico), Marianna Busching (Elena), Oratorio Society of New York, Westchester Choral Society (Lyndon Woodside, Director); Opera Orchestra of New York; Conductor: Eve Queler). World premiere recording, recorded live at Carnegie Hall (April 1979). CBS/Sony

Further reading

• Anne Midgette, "The Wisdom of Eve", Opera News, October 1999. Accessed via subscription 20 December 2007.
• Bernard Holland, "Into the Woods but Leaving Hidden Meanings Behind", The New York Times, 8 June 2005. Accessed 20 December 2007.
• Daniel J. Wakin, "Opera Orchestra of New York Says It May Reduce Concerts Next Season", The New York Times, 17 February 2007. Accessed 20 December 2007.
• Jay Nordlinger, "A Stage for Opera's Overlooked", The New York Sun, 17 December 2007. Accessed 20 December 2007.

External links

• Eve Queler's official web site