In Wednesday’s (8/3) New York Times, James R. Oestreich writes, “When New York City Opera announced its new season last month, the name of George Manahan, the company’s music director, was conspicuously absent. … Mr. Manahan, 59, was appointed music director in 1996 by Paul Kellogg, then the new artistic and general director of the company, and has been a regular fixture on the City Opera podium since. … But Mr. Manahan is not scheduled to conduct any of the four productions announced for next season, as the company makes its exodus from Lincoln Center with performances to take place at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, John Jay College and El Museo del Barrio from mid-February through mid-May. … ‘George was unfortunately not able to conduct for us next season,’ Mr. Steel said in a telephone interview on Tuesday. ‘He didn’t have the dates free, partly no doubt because we were so late in planning our season.’ … Mr. Manahan’s unavailability, Mr. Steel said, illuminated another matter for him, that ‘given the size of the company now, it doesn’t make sense for us to have a music director.’ … Mr. Steel said he had hoped to have worked out a future engagement with Mr. Manahan before announcing the elimination of his position, but word leaked out prematurely.”
Posted August 3, 2011
