{{Short description|Non-profit organization in the USA}} The '''Knoxville Opera''' is an American opera company based in Knoxville, Tennessee. It was founded in 1978 as the Knoxville Civic Opera by Edward Zambara, who served as Artistic Director until 1981.<ref>Waxberg, Greg (23 March 2018) [https://operawire.com/40-years-and-counting-for-knoxville-opera/ "40 Years and Counting for Knoxville Opera"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191105044113/https://operawire.com/40-years-and-counting-for-knoxville-opera/ |date=2019-11-05 }} ''Opera Wire''</ref><ref>Marquard, Bryan (09 August 2007) [http://www.boston.com/news/globe/obituaries/articles/2007/08/10/edward_zambara_81_taught_singing_to_acclaimed_performers/ "Edward Zambara, 81; taught singing to acclaimed performers"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121012070120/http://www.boston.com/news/globe/obituaries/articles/2007/08/10/edward_zambara_81_taught_singing_to_acclaimed_performers/ |date=2012-10-12 }}''The Boston Globe''</ref> The company changed its name and became an entirely professional opera company in 1983.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.knoxvilleopera.com/about/archives/ |title=Knoxville Opera History |publisher=Knoxville Opera |accessdate=March 17, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111012233618/http://www.knoxvilleopera.com/about/archives/ |archive-date=October 12, 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref> Since 1981 the company has had three General Directors who also served as the Principal Conductor; Robert Lyall who served from 1982-1999, Francis Graffeo from 2000-2005, Brian Salesky from 2005-2022.,<ref>Mattison, Ben (24 May 2005) [http://www.playbill.com/article/knoxville-opera-names-general-director "Knoxville Opera Names General Director"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191105044117/http://www.playbill.com/article/knoxville-opera-names-general-director |date=2019-11-05 }} ''Playbill''</ref> and Jason Hardy from 2022 to present.<ref>Sherrod, Alan (1 December 2021) [https://artsknoxville.com/index.php/2021/12/01/knoxville-opera-announces-big-changes-to-its-artistic-management-team/] "Knoxville Opera Announces Big Changes To Its Artistic Management Team" ''Arts Knoxville''</ref>
The 1978 inaugural performance of ''La Traviata'' included opera stars Delores Ziegler and Knoxville native Mary Costa, who garnered fame for creating the voice of Princess Aurora in the 1959 Disney film ''Sleeping Beauty''. Notable appearances with the company include gala performances by Luciano Pavarotti, Marilyn Horne, Cheryl Studer and Catherine Malfitano,<ref>Mason, Doug (31 August 2003) [https://archive.today/20120709045446/http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Opera_World/message/2487 "Renowned soprano returns to Knoxville"]''Knoxville News-Sentinel''</ref> in addition to leading roles performed by Rosalind Elias, Mary Dunleavy, Faith Esham, Stella Zambalis, Jami Rogers-Anderson, Joyce El-Khoury, Talise Trevigne, Rachele Gilmore, Barbara Dever, Victoria Livengood, Enrico Di Giuseppe, Carl Tanner, Richard Troxell, David Keith, Robert Orth, Kevin Langan, Kevin Short, Kevin Burdette, Jan Opalach, Jeffrey Wells, Andrew Wentzel, and Zachary James.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.knoxvilleopera.org/history/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220929150811/https://www.knoxvilleopera.org/history/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=2022-09-29 |title=Knoxville Opera History |publisher=Knoxville Opera |accessdate=November 21, 2023}}</ref> Directors who have appeared regularly with the company include James Marvel and Carroll Freeman, the latter having directed more than twenty-five operas with the company beginning with ''The Marriage of Figaro'' in 1996.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.knoxvilleopera.org/history/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220929150811/https://www.knoxvilleopera.org/history/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=2022-09-29 |title=Knoxville Opera History |publisher=Knoxville Opera |accessdate=November 21, 2023}}</ref> Freeman also served as Artistic Director of the Knoxville Opera Studio at the University of Tennessee, a training program whose members often perform supporting roles with Knoxville Opera as part of their studies.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.music.utk.edu/voice/KOS.html |title=Knoxville Opera Studio at University of Tennessee |publisher=University of Tennessee |accessdate=March 18, 2012 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130513080140/http://www.music.utk.edu/voice/KOS.html |archivedate=May 13, 2013 }}</ref>
The company performs at the Tennessee Theatre.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tennesseetheatre.com/about-us/historical-timeline/|title=Tennessee Theatre Historical Timeline|publisher=Tennessee Theatre|accessdate=March 17, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120415173245/http://www.tennesseetheatre.com/about-us/historical-timeline/|archive-date=April 15, 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2011, the company celebrated the Tenth Anniversary of their Rossini Festival and Italian Street Fair in downtown Knoxville. In addition to food and crafts, the festival offers free open-air performances by members of the Knoxville Opera and UT Knoxville Opera Studio,<ref>Lakin, Matt. (25 April 2010) [http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2010/apr/25/a-taste-of-italy/ "Despite wet weather, about 20,000 attend Rossini festival"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100901012135/http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2010/apr/25/a-taste-of-italy/ |date=2010-09-01 }}''Knoxville News-Sentinel''</ref> drawing as many as 35,000 people.<ref>Shearer, John. (9 April 2011) [http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2011/apr/09/rossini-festival-draws-crowd-downtown-knoxville/ "Rossini Festival draws a crowd to downtown Knoxville"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110616153853/http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2011/apr/09/rossini-festival-draws-crowd-downtown-knoxville/ |date=2011-06-16 }}''Knoxville News-Sentinel''</ref>
In 2015 the company was the subject of national attention regarding a controversy over physical appearance in opera hiring practices.<ref>Simeonov, Jenna (02 December 2015) [https://www.schmopera.com/knoxville-opera-poor-diction-and-prerogative/ "Knoxville Opera, poor diction, and prerogative"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191105044110/https://www.schmopera.com/knoxville-opera-poor-diction-and-prerogative/ |date=2019-11-05 }} ''Schmopera''</ref><ref>Norman Lebrecht (03 December 2015) [https://www.schmopera.com/knoxville-opera-poor-diction-and-prerogative/ "An American bass thunders at anti-old, ugly opera"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191105044110/https://www.schmopera.com/knoxville-opera-poor-diction-and-prerogative/ |date=2019-11-05 }} ''Slipped Disc''</ref> Knoxville Opera celebrated its fortieth anniversary in 2018 and plans to stage Nkeiru Okoye's opera ''Harriet Tubman'' in a 2020 revival of the 2014 American Opera Projects production.<ref>Waxberg, Greg (23 March 2018) [https://operawire.com/40-years-and-counting-for-knoxville-opera/ "40 Years and Counting for Knoxville Opera"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191105044113/https://operawire.com/40-years-and-counting-for-knoxville-opera/ |date=2019-11-05 }} ''Opera Wire''</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.aopopera.org/events/2020/5/1/harriet-tubman-at-knoxville-opera |title=Harriet Tubman at Knoxville Opera |publisher=American Opera Projects |accessdate=November 4, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191105044111/https://www.aopopera.org/events/2020/5/1/harriet-tubman-at-knoxville-opera |archive-date=November 5, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref>
==See also== *Knoxville Symphony Orchestra
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{official website|http://www.knoxvilleopera.com/}}
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Category:Culture of Knoxville, Tennessee Category:American opera companies Category:Musical groups established in 1978 Category:Performing arts in Tennessee Category:1978 establishments in Tennessee