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Michigan Opera Theatre and he has been with Florida Grand Opera for the past twenty-eight seasons. |
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Robert M. Heuer is the General Director of Florida Grand Opera (FGO). His opera management career began in Detroit as the Founding Managing Director of Michigan Opera Theatre and he has been with Florida Grand Opera for the past twenty-eight seasons. He joined Florida Grand Opera as Director of Production in 1979, became Assistant General Director in 1983 and became General Director in 1985. As General Director, Mr. Heuer led the effort to merge the Greater Miami Opera and The Opera Guild Inc. of Ft. Lauderdale, creating Florida Grand Opera in June 1994.
During Mr. Heuer’s seasons as General Director and CEO, FGO has mounted 90 main-stage productions, including 25 operas never previously seen in South Florida. Among these productions are Richard Strauss’ Salome and Ariadne auf Naxos; Britten’s The Turn of the Screw; Monteverdi’s L’incoronazione di Poppea; Handel’s Julius Caesar; Janacek’s Kátya Kabanová; Marc Blitzstein’s Regina; Bellini’s La sonnambula; and the American premieres of Rossini’s Bianca e Falliero and Ede Donáth’s Szulamit, and the world premieres of Robert Ward’s Minutes till Midnight and David Carlson’s Anna Karenina.
Under Mr. Heuer’s leadership, the Company has developed one of the most important young artist programs in the country with the purpose of providing a bridge for singers from the educational to the professional arena. The Company’s Young Artist Studio is one of the most prestigious in the country, receiving over 700 applications from singers all over the world, seeking the eight coveted positions in the program.
Robert M. Heuer was at the forefront of the community effort to build The Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County in downtown Miami. In addition, Mr. Heuer spearheaded the purchase of a 43,000 square foot site immediately across the street from the Ziff Ballet Opera House, which will accommodate the James Byrd Anderson, Jr. Opera Center. The Anderson Opera Center will house the Company’s rehearsal studios, production office and studios, costume shop, artist apartments, administrative offices, and a 485-seat theater.
Mr. Heuer has served as a board member and Vice-Chairman of OPERA America. Mr. Heuer has also served both as Chairman and panel member for the Opera/Music Theatre Challenge Grant Program and Opera/Music Theatre Grants Panel of the National Endowment for the Arts, and as a member of the State of Florida Music Grants Review Panel. In 1988, the Florida Commissioner of Education appointed him to the Florida Alliance for Arts Education, which is an affiliate of the National Education Program at the Kennedy Center. In 1990, the Republic of Austria awarded him the Grand Decoration of Honor in recognition of his commitment to producing the operas of Mozart. In 2001, he was recognized with the Narot Humanitarian Award presented by Temple Israel of Greater Miami. In 2007, he was awarded the Arts Management Excellence Award by the Arts and Business Council for his outstanding achievement in the management of a local arts organization.
A native of Detroit, Mr. Heuer received his Bachelor of Arts in Speech/Theater from Wayne State University.
Music Director
Stewart Robertson has served, for the past ten seasons, as Music Director of Florida Grand Opera conducting twenty-eight productions, encompassing more than one hundred performances. He has brought to his position an active involvement with new music combined with his great love of the works by Mozart, Britten, Puccini, and Strauss. In June 2005, Mo. Robertson made his debut with Opera Omaha and now serves as its Artistic Director and Principal Conductor. He also serves as Music Director of the Atlantic Classical Orchestra.
A native of Glasgow, Scotland, Maestro Robertson’s notable engagements have included numerous world premieres: Orpheus Descending for the Lyric Opera of Chicago, The Midnight Angel for the Opera Theatre of St. Louis and Glimmerglass Opera, Dreamkeepers for Utah Opera, Peace for the Scottish Opera, Operatic Trilogy, Central Park for Glimmerglass Opera (televised on the PBS series Great Performances), and Anna Karenina for Florida Grand Opera.
Internationally, Mo. Robertson has conducted with numerous orchestras including the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Danish Radio Orchestra, Philharmonia Hungarica, Vienna Tonkunstler Orchestra, Swiss-Italian Radio Symphony Orchestra, the Royal Scottish National and BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestras, and the Orchestra of Maastricht.
Mo. Robertson is a graduate of the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Bristol University. He studied piano in London with Dennis Mathews, and conducted with Otmar Suitner at the Salzburg Mozarteum and Professor Hans Swarowsky at the Vienna Academy, where he graduated with highest distinction. Mo. Robertson first attracted international attention as a second prize winner in the 1977 Austrian Radio Conductors Competition at the Salzburg Music Festival. He became the youngest conductor to lead a performance at the Cologne Opera since the debut of Herbert von Karajan. At age twenty-six, he moved to Switzerland as Music Director of the Zurich Ballet. Two years later, he was appointed Music Director and Principal Conductor of the Scottish Opera Touring Company.
Maestro Robertson’s 2005 recording of Sir Richard Rodney Bennett’s The Mines of Sulphur was released to great critical acclaim, culminating in a prestigious Grammy Award nomination for best opera recording. Mo. Robertson’s recording with the Utah Symphony of the symphonic works of David Carlson was also released on New World Records, and he has conducted New York City Opera productions that were nationally televised on Live from Lincoln Center. In addition to being an active pianist, Mo. Robertson is a broadcast writer and lecturer on music who has been seen and heard on National Public Radio, Public Broadcasting System, BBC, and Swiss-Italian radio and television.
Florida Grand Opera, celebrating its 67th anniversary season of continuous performances, stands as one of the oldest performing arts organizations in Florida. Florida Grand Opera is one of the four resident companies of Carnival Center for the Performing Arts, making its home Sanford and Dolores Ziff Ballet Opera House. Florida Grand Opera was formed in June 1994 by the merger of Greater Miami Opera, founded in 1941, and The Opera Guild Inc. of Fort Lauderdale, founded in 1945. The Greater Miami Opera began as a dream of its founder, Dr. Arturo di Filippi, a voice teacher at the University of Miami. The first production, held at Miami Senior High School, was a single performance of Leoncavallo’s Pagliacci, performed in English, with Dr. di Filippi in the lead. In 1945, Dr. di Filippi appeared in a production of Il trovatore, at Ft. Lauderdale Central High School, representing the first production of the The Opera Guild, Inc. Florida Grand Opera has a rich history of presenting internationally-acclaimed artists such as Robert Merrill, Dorothy Kirsten, Richard Tucker, Renata Tebaldi, Roberta Peters, Franco Corelli, Renata Scotto, Montserrat Caballe, Jon Vickers, Sherrill Milnes, Nicolai Gedda, Birgit Nilsson, Anna Moffo, Plácido Domingo, Beverly Sills, Joan Sutherland, Evelyn Lear, James Morris, Diana Soviero, Justino Diaz, Simon Estes, Elizabeth Futral, Helen Donath, Deborah Voigt, Fernando de la Mora, and Mary Mills. Luciano Pavarotti made his American debut in 1965 with the company’s production of Lucia di Lammermoor.
In addition to producing standard repertoire, Florida Grand Opera also presents lesser known operas by great composers, as well as commissions of works of living composers. In April 2007, Florida Grand Opera presented the critically acclaimed world premiere of David Carlson’s Anna Karenina with libretto by Colin Graham. Anna Karenina was commissioned as a co-production by Florida Grand Opera, Michigan Opera Theatre, and Opera Theatre of Saint Louis. In May 1997, the Company presented the world premiere of Balseros, an opera by Robert Ashley with libretto by world renowned Cuban writer, Maria Irene Fornes. Balseros was commissioned as a co-production by Florida Grand Opera, Miami-Dade Community College and the South Florida Composers Alliance. Another world premiere was Robert Ward’s Minutes Till Midnight. American premieres include Gioachino Rossini’s Bianca e Falliero and the final revised version of Alberto Franchetti’s Cristoforo Colombo.
Florida Grand Opera offers several highly successful outreach and educational programs including its internationally-recognized Young Artist Studio Program. The program attracts young singers who train and enhance their professional skills during a 35-week residency. Each year, the young artists tour the Miami-Dade and Broward County Public Schools in a fully-staged opera production, reaching 50,000 students of diverse backgrounds. In addition, the young artists perform and cover lead roles in the main-stage productions.
Florida Grand Opera presents five main-stage productions annually in the Ziff Ballet Opera House at The Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County, and at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts in Fort Lauderdale.
SUPPORTING FLORIDA GRAND OPERA
Thank you for your interest in supporting Florida Grand Opera! Your donation, whether large or small, makes the difference in our ability to continue to present the finest performances of grand opera season after season.
Opera is the most labor intensive of all of the art forms, embracing the visual and the performing arts and the creative talents of singers; dancers; scenic, costume and lighting designers; directors; conductors; musicians; technicians and stage hands who work collaboratively to bring magnificent works of art to Florida Grand Opera stages.
Contributed income accounts for approximately 50% of the Opera's current $15.7 million annual operating budget. It is, therefore, essential to provide the necessary funds to bring Florida Grand Opera's main stage productions to Miami and Fort Lauderdale, at the same time fulfilling the funding needs of the Opera's professional training programs for outstanding young singers and its extensive education and community programs.
INDIVIDUALS
Annual Fund
Gifts from $25 to $1,499 are deeply appreciated, and in recognition, are listed at the $100 and over level each year in the Season Program Book.
Lyric Society
Beginning at the $1,500 level, membership in the Lyric Society offers special benefits and recognition at its various contribution levels, including a photograph in the Season Program Book. At the $15,000 level and above, donors also receive a half- or full-page profile.
Benefits include: attendance at dress rehearsals, priority seating in the Ziff Ballet Opera House at The Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County, membership in the Opera Club, advance notice of and invitations to all Opera special events, among others.
Crown Jewel Society
Beginning at the $25,000 level, membership in the Society reflects the commitment of major donors to the mission of Florida Grand Opera and represents the backbone of support for the Opera's annual operations. Donor recognition includes a full-page profile and a photograph in the Season Program Book.
At this level of support and over, benefits and recognition reflect the attribution of gifts to production sponsorships, performance underwriting, special private events with season artists and members of the Young Artist Studio, or other FGO programs, as well as other individually-designed amenities.
CORPORATE GIVING
Corporate Membership Programs
These programs begin at the $5,000 level and are designed to introduce new prospects in this category to FGO and to maintain and augment the Opera's existing base of support among local and regional corporations and businesses. Benefits and privileges are commensurate with the level of the gift.
Major Corporate Gifts
Include those made by the American Express Company; Bank of America; BankAtlantic Foundation; BankUnited; Carnival Cruise Lines, Inc.; Citi Foundation; Deutsche Bank; FPL; Gibraltar Bank; HEICO Corporation; Jenny's Flowers, Inc.; Morton D. Weiner/AMPAC, Inc.; Podhurst Orseck, P.A.; and Ryder System, Inc.
Corporate Sponsorship Program
Opportunities exist to provide significant support for FGO productions, performances in Miami and Fort Lauderdale, season artists, the Young Artists Studio and the Annual Young Artists Showcase, the In-School Opera Program, the Opening Night Gala, After-Opera Parties and other special events.
Corporate Sponsors for the 2007 - 2008 Season include: Acura; American Airlines; BNY Mellon/Wealth Management; Comcast; the InterContinental Group; the Fort Lauderdale Grande (a Luxury Resorts Hotel); HSBC Bank, USA N.A.; The Miami Herald; Northern Trust; Piano & Art Galeria; Restaurant Associates; TotalBank and WPBT.
Matching Gifts
Many corporations have matching gift programs which enable individuals to augment their contributions in significant ways. Please contact the company's matching gift office to learn more about the program and its requirements.
FOUNDATION FUNDING
Each year grants from important local and regional foundations ensure the Opera's ability to fund a broad range of annual programs. Major foundation benefactors include the Arthur F. & Alice E. Adams Foundation; the Audrey Love Charitable Foundation; the John S. & James L. Knight Foundation; and The Josephine S. Leiser Foundation.
Valued benefactors include The Batchelor Foundation; Citizens Interested in Arts, Inc.; Community Foundation of Broward; Funding Arts Broward; Funding Arts Network; Ann & Gordon Getty Foundation; The A.D. Henderson Foundation; The Hagen Family Foundation; Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce; Peacock Foundation, Inc.; and The Rosenstiel Foundation.
GOVERNMENT SUPPORT
Important grants from local, regional and Federal resources are essential to enabling Florida Grand Opera to balance its annual operating budget, and include important support from the Miami-Dade Department of Cultural Affairs; the Broward Cultural Council; the Miami-Dade County Public Schools; the Florida Department, Division of Cultural Affairs and Florida Arts Council; the City of Miami Beach, Cultural Affairs Program, Cultural Affairs Council; and the National Endowment for the Arts.
SPECIAL EVENTS
Opening Night Gala
In launching the 2007 - 2008 season on Saturday, November 17, 2007, Florida Grand Opera is creating a new tradition for the Company by establishing an Opening Night Gala. Immediately following the first-night performance of Mozart's Così fan tutte, a spectacular dinner-dance will be held on the Lynn Wolfson Stage at Arsht Center's Ziff Ballet Opera House. The Opening Night Gala in Miami is the major benefit fundraiser for the Opera annually.
This year the theme of the Opening Night Gala is "Celebrating the Fusion of High Fashion and Opera," recognizing the collaborative relationship between these two creative worlds. Five renowned Miami fashion designers have been invited to create an original ball gown inspired by one of the season's five productions. The gowns will be auctioned during the Gala, with the proceeds to benefit the Opera. Models wearing these creations will be adorned with diamond earrings and necklaces from GRAFF.
Under the direction of Cecelia Schieve, the FGO Young Artists work with renowned artists and teachers from throughout the world of opera while gaining valuable mainstage performance experience.
YOUNG ARTIST STUDIO
September 2008 – May 2009
8 singers, 1 coach/accompanist
The Florida Grand Opera Young Artist Studio targets those skills necessary to develop a successful opera career. Singers attend classes concentrating on vocal interpretation, acting, style, language, and movement, receive regular individual coaching sessions, and participate in coachings, masterclasses and seminars given by acclaimed guest artists and teachers.
Young Artists have the opportunity to perform or cover mainstage roles, take part in school and community performances, perform art song recitals and perform in the Young Artist Gala of staged operatic scenes.
The Apprentice Coach works extensively with the Young Artists and visiting musical staff. Duties include coaching the Young Artists, taking part in school and community performances, accompanying chorus rehearsals and some main-stage performances, and calling titles (projected English translations).
Compensation: Members of the Young Artist Studio are provided with housing in Miami, utilities (except phone), health insurance, round-trip transportation to Miami, and a weekly stipend (currently $400), plus financial assistance for voice lessons is also available. Additional fees are paid for main-stage appearances in principal and comprimario roles. The weekly stipend is all-inclusive of community outreach and special events appearances on behalf of FGO. All vocal coaching, classes, seminars and master-classes are provided to Young Artists at no charge. Young Artists are responsible for their own transportation during their residence which necessitates the rental or ownership of a vehicle.
Florida Grand Opera, recognized for funding by the State of Florida through the Cultural Institutions Program, is sponsored in part by the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs, and the Florida Arts Council. Funding is also provided, in part, by the Broward County Board of County Commissioners, the Broward Cultural Affairs Council, the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau, the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs through the Cultural Affairs Council, the Mayor and the Miami-Dade County Board of County Commissioners, the city of Miami Beach Cultural Arts Council and the City of Miami Beach Mayor and Commission, and the National Endowment for the Arts. Florida Grand Opera is a Resident Company of the Performing Arts Center of Greater Miami and a member company of OPERA America.
The Young Artist Studio is funded through generous grants from the Estate of Curtis and Grace Panvini Rice, the Estate of James Byrd Anderson, Jr., Mr. Stephen A. Keller, Laurans and Arlene Mendelson Family, Samuel M. Townsend, Young Patronesses of the Opera Scholarship Fund, the Albert E. and Birdie W. Einstein Fund, Burdines Department Store, Publix Super Markets Charities, the Swogger Foundation, the Rosenstiel Foundation, the Jaharis Family Foundation, Ryder System, Inc., Junior Opera Guild and members of the Young Artist Society.
Welcome to the new Florida Grand Opera Virtual CD Gallery.
This is a listening room where you can preview our upcoming season, and revisit previews from our previous seasons starting with 2006/07.
You will hear commentaries from Bob Heuer, our General Director & CEO, Stewart Robertson, our Music Director, Andrew Bisantz, Resident Conductor, Justin Moss, Florida Grand Opera's Managing Director for Marketing and Communication and other renowned personalities. There will be short segments of Arias representative of the operas we are doing in the season, and short colorful synopses.
Sit back, listen and enjoy our Virtual CD Gallery on your computer, or you can download and burn your own CD of either all of the cuts or a selection of the cuts that interest you in an MP3 format.
We would like to extend our gratitude to EMI Classics, who have extended their permission to utilize portions of their recordings for our own promotional purposes.
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