What you need to know
- Opera Philadelphia has postponed performances to save money and is preparing for a change of leadership. David Devan will retire next spring after 13 years as general director.
- Devan, who recently turned 60, said the organization shouldn’t have “60- and 70-year-olds coming together and thinking about the future.”
- Opera Philadelphia made the announcement on the evening of September 21, the opening night of the 2023-24 season, ahead of the world premiere of Rene Orth’s Ten Days in Madhouse, which had been postponed due to the pandemic.
David Devan to step down as chairman next spring opera philadelphia After 13 years as executive director, he postponed one of this season’s productions to balance the company’s budget.
In addition, music director Corrado Lovalis has been given a three-year contract extension for 2026-27.
Opera Philadelphia made the announcement Tuesday ahead of the 2023-24 season opener on Sept. 21. World premiere delayed due to pandemic Rene Orse’s “10 days in the crazy house”
Devan, 60, has been with the company since 2006 and has led it since 2011. With his contract expiring on May 31, he felt he “needed to allow the new leader to find answers.”
“I don’t think it’s the most prudent way of being a leader for 60- and 70-year-olds to think about the future,” he said in a phone interview.
“anonymous loverJoseph Bologne’s 1780 work, “Illusion,” by Joseph Bologne, considered the first black classical composer, has been postponed from 2024 to 2025. It was scheduled for a semi-run at the Academy of Music on February 2nd and 4th.
The decision will save $750,000 out of $2 million in budget cuts, including 16% job cuts. The 2023-24 budget will be $11.3 million, down from $11.9 million last season, when total ticket sales were $1.57 million.
The only performance at the Academy of Music this season is Verdi’s “Simon Boccanegrafrom September 22nd to October 1st, Puccini’smadame butterfly“Anonymous Lovers” was scheduled for February 2nd and 4th.
“I think the most difficult thing for everyone on the ground is the fatigue from going through COVID-19. said Devan. “What we have seen is that people who used to come to buy a lot are not buying as much as they used to. They are becoming more selective. , but we are also seeing a surge in new customers.”
New customers have different habits.
“New viewers won’t act like parents. They’re not going to be subscribers,” Devan said. “So we need to understand what the system is for dealing with this customer change.”
’10 Days’ opens five performances at the 296-seat Wilma Theater through September 30 as the opening of the company’s O23 Festival. Unholy Wars, with music by Georg Frideric Handel, Claudio Monteverdi and Mary Kouyoumujang, runs four performances from September 23rd to October at the 365-seat Suzanne Roberts Theatre. 1. Five recitals will also be held at the Curtis Institute of Music and the Academy of Vocal Arts in September.
Lovalis, 58, has been music director since 2005.
