Cincinnati Opera announces $15 million campaign
Cincinnati Opera has quietly raised more than $7 million toward a campaign goal of $15 million.
And when the campaign is completed in 2020, local opera fans will continue to experience opulent productions such as the currently playing "Turandot," see more big-name singers, directors and conductors and attend more free community events such as Opera in the Park.
The company announced on Saturday that its five-year New Century Campaign for its 100th anniversary in 2020 has passed the halfway mark. Campaign co-chairs Cathy Crain, Gary "Doc" Huffman and Dr. John Tew, Jr., made the announcement at Saturday's performance of Puccini's "Turandot" in Music Hall.
The money will be used to boost Cincinnati Opera's endowment as well as to support new artistic projects.
"By having another $15 million in our endowment and in project money, we can dream, and we can execute it," said Patricia Beggs, general director and CEO.
The campaign will focus on four areas:Continuing to present masterworks of the operatic canon, expanding the canon by creating and presenting contemporary American opera, broadening reach within the community and finding ways to connect with new audiences.
Examples of what opera lovers can anticipate include a new production of Puccini's "Tosca," which will be presented in the 2016 Summer Festival. And the funds will enable the company to hire major stars of opera, such as tenor Marcello Giordani, slated to appear in "Tosca," and Grammy Award-winning soprano Christine Goerke, who will star in Beethoven's "Fidelio," also in 2016.
Cincinnati Opera now has a resident conductor, Christopher Allen, who led performances of "Morning Star" and Opera in the Park this season. His appointment, new this year, has been funded for three years, but, said Beggs, "it's something we want to continue."
Cincinnati Opera hopes to expand its reach in the community, with additional events such as its Back to the Zoo concert and its free concert of operatic chestnuts in Washington Park. It will also continue offering performances in area hospitals.
And there will be money for the most cutting-edge technology, to provide a better experience for patrons, Beggs said.
The lead gifts:
Harry Fath, a businessman and former president of the board of trustees, will underwrite Cincinnati Opera's general director and CEO chair in perpetuity. It will be named The Harry Fath General Director & CEO chair. The gift was made in honor of current general director and CEO Patricia K. Beggs, who is now in her 30th year with the company.
The Harry T. Wilks Foundation will underwrite the artistic director chair, currently held by Evans Mirageas, in perpetuity.
The Corbett Foundation will support the Opera Fusion program in perpetuity. The foundation began funding the program in 2007. It was the dream of late arts patron Patricia Corbett that Cincinnati Opera and CCM Opera at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music would join forces to share resources and provide opportunities.
The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation will continue its support of Opera Fusion: New Works, which supports the creation of new opera, for another three years, 2016-2018.
The John A. Schroth Family Charitable Trust, PNC Bank, Trusrtee, and The Louise Taft Semple Foundation gave grants to support partnerships with local arts organizations such as concert:nova, in which Cincinnati Opera provides office space and administrative support.
Significant gifts were also made by Cathy and Tom Crain, Gary "Doc" and Milly Huffman, Ann and Harry Santen, Murray and Robin Sinclaire and Susan and John Tew.
Coming next season
Also on Saturday, artistic director Evans Mirageas offered a sneak peek of the four operas that will be mounted next summer. They are "Die Fledermaus" by Johann Strauss II, the world premiere of "Fellow Travelers" by Gregory Spears and Greg Pierce -- which is in collaboration with the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music -- Beethoven's only opera "Fidelio" and the always popular "Tosca" by Giacomo Puccini.
Casting and production information will be released at a later date.