OperaOntario.com
Title
Opera Ontario - Home
Description
History of the Company
Opera Hamilton was incorporated in 1980,having grown out of the community’s annual “Festitalia” celebration. The new company produced a two-opera season, under the leadership of its board, Artistic Director Steven Thomas and General Manager Ruth Slater.
In 1986, conductor Daniel Lipton was appointed Artistic Director, and the company added an ‘opera highlights’ concert - POPERA™- to its season. In the 1989-90 season, Opera Hamilton added a third, fully staged production to its annual program.
In 1992-93, the Board of Directors developed the organization’s first long-range Strategic Plan which fostered the creation of partnerships with other communities, with the intent of accessing increased resources and market potential. The plan also created a new organizational infrastructure headed by a General Director, responsible for the overall management of the company. In 1994, the board engaged Canadian Ken Freeman as the first General Director.
