“Michigan Opera Theatre is changing its name after more than 50 years as a Detroit cultural anchor. Detroit Opera will be the new name when the company returns to the Detroit Opera House after more than two years for the April 2 premiere of Puccini’s ‘La Bohème,’ ” writes Duante Beddingfield in Monday’s (2/28) Detroit Free Press. “The name change is the next step in a bold rebranding process laid out by CEO Wayne Brown and Artistic Director Yuval Sharon, emphasizing community, accessibility, artistic risk-taking and collaboration. ‘I think the timing really does feel right,’ said Sharon…. ‘Detroit is our anchor. It’s a great moment to really double down on our commitment to this community.’ … Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, ‘La Bohème’ will be [Sharon’s] first production in the opera house. It will be followed by ‘X: The Life and Times of Malcolm X’ in May.… ‘At first glance, ‘Detroit Opera’ may seem like a small change,’ said Detroit Opera Chairman Ethan Davidson, ‘but we think it’s actually huge. Over just the next year, we’re partnering with seven other opera companies, including the Metropolitan Opera…. We’ll send a message that creativity and new ideas are blossoming in Detroit.’ ”
Change font size
