“While Rochester received news this week about Ward Stare’s renewed contract with Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, where do you think he was? At the Metropolitan Opera House in New York,” writes Caurie Putnam in Friday’s (12/8) Democrat and Chronicle (Rochester, N.Y.). “The 35-year-old maestro, who became the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra’s youngest-ever music director in 2014, [is] conducting The Merry Widow. Q: How does the Metropolitan Opera House compare to the RPO’s home? Stare: Both are very beautiful and have great ambiance. The Metropolitan Opera House is an icon of New York City and the Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre is an icon of Rochester. Q: What show are you most looking forward to in 2018? Stare: We have two world premieres coming up (Allen Shawn’s Oboe Concerto for Erik Behr and Jennifer Higdon’s Harp Concerto for Yolanda Kondonassis) and … I’m looking forward to the opera as well. Q: What about aspirations or goals in the year ahead for the RPO? Stare: I’m planning to continue to develop artistically…. Growth is everything. Financially we’re in better shape than we have been in a long time and I’m thrilled [CEO] Curtis Long is here. The future is very bright for the RPO.”
Posted December 13, 2017
Photo of Ward Stare by Suzy Gorman
