In the New York Times’s ArtsBeat blog on Wednesday (1/27), Dave Izkoff writes, Eve Queler, the founder and longtime music director of the Opera Orchestra of New York, who has seen the institution through recent financial struggles, is preparing to step down from her post. The orchestra said in a news release that it had appointed Alberto Veronesi, the Italian conductor, to serve as its full-time music director starting with its 2011-12 season. Ms. Queler, who established the orchestra in 1971 to present concerts by established opera performers and emerging talents—including Renée Fleming, Deborah Voigt and José Carreras—will share the baton with Mr. Veronesi for the orchestra’s 40th anniversary season in 2010-11. During that time he will serve as music director designate and conduct an opera-in-concert performance. The next season, Ms. Queler will become conductor laureate, and Mr. Veronesi will begin a five-year term. Mr. Veronesi is the music director of the Puccini Festival at Torre del Lago and the Orchestra Sinfonica Siciliana, as well as the artistic director of the Filarmonica del Teatro Comunale di Bologna. He will retain these positions during his time with the Opera Orchestra.”
Posted January 28, 2010
