Tri-Cities Opera Reshapes for the Future

The Board of Directors of Tri-Cities Opera have announced a variety of changes to better position the company financially while improving its service to local and regional audiences.

Months of research have examined opportunities to reduce expenses, off load costs and provide better efficiencies. Most recently TCO concluded a workshop looking at these issues with the President and CEO of OPERA America.

As a result, the following changes have already taken place:

1) The development of new partnerships through Binghamton University's School of Music.

2) Peyton Hibbitt, Co-founder and Artistic Director Emeritus has been offered an adjunct faculty position as part of the MM-Opera program at Binghamton University.

3) Duane Skrablak, Senior Artistic Director has retired.

4) Peter Sicilian has been asked to be the Stage Director for Cosi fan Tutte, the first production of the 2010-2011 season.

5) John Mario Di Costanzo has been engaged by both Tri-Cities Opera and Binghamton University. He will be music director and conductor of the opera performances at the Forum and he will teach classes and give individual instruction at the University.

6) The Resident Artist Training Program will continue with available resources concentrated on fewer singers and with added opportunities for the singers to network with artists working in the industry.

TCO was founded in 1949 by Peyton Hibbitt and Carmen Savoca. By 1950 they had launched this community's first full-scale opera Cavalleria Rusticana, using a full orchestra, native language and complete stage settings -rare for any local opera - anywhere.

In 1971, TCO began its Resident Artist Training Program (RATP). Through the 1990s singers came to train and stayed for several seasons before launching careers. These singers provided the primary talent for TCO's main stage presentations.


Over half of North America's opera companies were established after 1970, and one quarter of the total were established since 1980, making the growth of opera throughout North America a relatively new phenomenon.

Many of these newer companies also offered training programs with greater financial support than was available at TCO and the added value of important exposure to industry professionals. This made it more difficult for TCO to attract and keep singers. In the past few seasons, the company has had to engage singers outside the company for primary roles.

"The business model which served us well is no longer workable," said General Director Reed Smith. "However, with the guidance of OPERA America, and given the strengthened relationship with Binghamton University we believe we are now headed in
the correct direction."

OPERA America serves the opera field by supporting the creation, presentation and enjoyment of opera. It counts 117 professional companies in 43 states in its membership, including Tri-Cities Opera. It also provides support and consultation to opera companies.

"The re-structuring of Tri-Cities Opera represents an important step forward for this historic company," said Marc A. Scorca, President and CEO of Opera America. "For more than 50 years, the company played an essential role in the development of young
American artists, paving the way for an explosion in the number of training programs across the country. With the recent re-structuring, the company is making a bold and strategic move to improve its service to local and regional audiences, and increase its financial stability into the future. As it did in 1949, Tri-Cities Opera is responding the current needs of its community."

"Tri-Cities Opera is making some bold changes but the fundamentals of the company are still intact," said Dirk Olds, TCO Board Chairman. "It was absolutely necessary that the
company re-tool itself for the future and we feel these changes will result in a wonderful improvement of our services. It's as if we have just upgraded to 'TCO Version 2.0'".

Tri-Cities Opera was founded in 1949 by Carmen Savoca and Peyton Hibbitt. The company enjoys an exceptional reputation in the opera world for its resident artist-training program, sets, costumes and opera productions.

Tri-Cities Opera has announced its program for its main stage productions and its 62nd season: Mozart's Cosi fan Tutte will be presented October 15 and 17; Verdi's La Traviata will be performed February 11 and 13, 2011; Offenbach's The Tales of
Hoffman will end the season on April; 29 and May 1, 2011.