Florida Grand Opera facts for kids
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The Florida Grand Opera (FGO) is an American opera company located in Miami, Florida. It is the oldest performing arts group in Florida and one of the oldest opera companies in the United States. FGO was formed in 1994 when two older opera groups, the Opera Guild of Greater Miami (started in 1941) and the Opera Guild, Inc. of Fort Lauderdale (started in 1945), joined together.
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Where FGO Performs
FGO is the main opera company at the Ziff Ballet Opera House. This theater is part of the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts in Miami. They also perform at the Au-Rene Theater, which is in the Broward Center for the Performing Arts in Fort Lauderdale. Sometimes, FGO puts on shows at other theaters in the area, like the Lauderhill Performing Arts Center.
A Look at FGO's History
How FGO Started
The company began in 1941 as the Opera Guild of Greater Miami. It was founded by Arturo di Filippi, who was a singer and voice teacher at the University of Miami. Later, the group became known as the Greater Miami Opera Association.
Arturo di Filippi brought many famous singers to Miami. One of them was Luciano Pavarotti, who was not yet well-known. In 1965, he filled in for another singer in a show called Lucia di Lammermoor. He went on to sing many more roles with the Greater Miami Opera.
The Middle Years (1950-1996)
During this time, the company was called the "Greater Miami Opera." Emerson Buckley was the music director from 1950 to 1973. After that, he was the artistic director until 1986. Willie Anthony Waters then became the artistic director from 1986 to 1992.
From 1973 to 1985, Robert "Bob" Herman led the Greater Miami Opera. He had worked with the Metropolitan Opera before. Under his leadership, the opera became well-known across the country. Many international singers continued to perform on their stage.
After Herman retired, Robert Heuer was the General Director from 1985 to 2012. Then, Susan T. Danis took over. She was the first woman to be the General Director and CEO of FGO. In 2024, Maria Todaro became the new General Director and CEO.
Recent Times (1997-2023)
Stewart Robertson was FGO's music director from 1997 to 2010. On June 1, 2011, Ramón Tebar became the music director. He was the first Spanish conductor to lead both an American opera company and an American symphony. In 2014, Tebar became the main conductor for the company.
Today, FGO does not have one main conductor. Instead, they invite different guest conductors to lead their shows. Some of these conductors include Gregory Buchalter and Michael Ching. In 2022, Marlon Daniel joined the music team as an Associate Conductor.
In 2006, FGO moved its main performance spot to the new Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts. When Susan T. Danis became the leader in 2012, she helped the company pay off a lot of debt. She did this by selling their rehearsal space in Fort Lauderdale and making the season a bit shorter.
By 2022, Susan Danis had led FGO for ten years. During this time, she started a "Made in Miami" series. She also kept the opera going strong during the global COVID-19 pandemic. She supported new and modern opera works. After 11 years, Susan T. Danis stepped down from her role. Maria Todaro was then appointed as the interim General Director.
Todaro's leadership started just as the 2023-2024 season began. This season featured popular operas like La Traviata and La Bohème. These shows were very popular and received good reviews. People praised Todaro for making opera easier for many different audiences to enjoy.
FGO Today (2024 - Present)
In 2024, the FGO Board of Directors chose a new Chair, Tina Vidal-Duart. They also officially appointed Maria Todaro as the General Director and CEO.
The Florida Grand Opera has started several exciting new projects:
- They launched five new education programs. These programs help children in the area learn about opera.
- They created "The Vault." This project works with MDC Wolfson Campus to organize and save FGO's historical items and collections.
- They started a Social Entrepreneurship department. This group focuses on reaching out to the community.
- The FGO Innovation Lab uses new technologies and mixes different cultures to create shows in unusual places. Examples include "Opera + Reggae" and an "MMA Opera."
Maria Todaro's plan to save money and connect with the community has been featured in The Miami Herald newspaper.
See also
In Spanish: Gran Ópera de Florida para niños
