The Toledo Opera is an American opera company based in Toledo, Ohio. Founded in 1959, the company's first General Director was Lester Freedman with conductor Joseph Hawthorne of the Toledo Symphony Orchestra serving as Music Director.[1] In 1960 Freedman founded the Dayton Opera and for many years he led the two organizations simultaneously - an arrangement which cut down on production costs for both companies.[2] In 1983 Freedman was forced out of his position by the Toledo Opera's board after several years of financial problems and in-fighting among the company's leadership. Several interim directors kept the company going over the next three years, including David Bamberger[3] and Johan van der Merwe.[4]
In 1986 conductor James Meena became the company's new permanent director.[4] In 1994 a major financial boon was given to the company by Toledo philanthropists Theodore and Lucille Gorski who gave a 1 million dollar challenge grant to the company which enabled them to establish an endowment for the organization.[5] That same year the company played a major role in supporting the renovation of the historic Valentine Theatre in Toledo, a decision which saved the theater from demolition.[6] The renovations of the theater took several years, and Toledo Opera could not move into its new permanent home until 1999. The company had the honor of opening the newly renovated theater for Toledo Opera's 40th Season gala night on October 22, 1999 with a production of Giacomo Puccini's Tosca, featuring Diana Soviero in the title role.[7]
In 2000 Renay Conlin succeeded Meena as the director of Toledo Opera after he left to become director of Opera Carolina.[8] Her husband, Thomas Conlin, is a Grammy Award winning conductor who conducted several operas for Toledo Opera during his wife's tenure.[9][10]
In March 2011, Conlin suddenly resigned from Toledo Opera, to take a position as CEO of the Napa Valley Museum in California.[11] Her departure followed the mass resignation of members of the Toledo Opera board's financial committee (including the Gorskis, see above), who alleged that the company had "serious problems with cash-flow shortages" and had "earned a reputation in the community for not paying its bills."[12]
Within a few weeks, the Opera's board of directors appointed a former development director, Suzanne Rorick, as Toledo Opera's new Executive Director. Under Rorick's leadership, the company has focused on fundraising to pay off existing debt, and has undergone an artistic re-organization that saw the return of several former Toledo Opera colleagues, including James Meena, who will conduct the opening opera of the 2011-2012 season, Verdi's La traviata.[13]