Carol Fox (Chicago opera) explained
Carol Fox (Chicago, June 15, 1926 – July 21, 1981) was, at the age of 28, the first impresario of the Chicago Lyric Opera and credited with restoring Chicago's pre-Depression operatic glory.[1]
Carol was the only child of a wealthy Chicago furniture manufacturer. Her enthusiasm for opera showed itself when she returned home from study in Europe in 1950.[2] With Lawrence Kelly, also aged 28, a real estate agent and insurance broker, and the conductor Nicola Rescigno she organized the rebirth of a resident opera company at the Chicago Civic Opera building.[3] In 1958 she engaged Pino Donati from Italy as her assistant and artistic director - a function in which he continued till his death in 1975.[4] Fox was ousted from the board of the opera in 1981 and died shortly afterwards.
Notes and References
- Women in world history: a biographical encyclopedia, ed. Anne Commire, Deborah Klezmer, 2000: "Credited with restoring Chicago's pre-Depression operatic glory, Carol Fox was the co-founder and general manager of the Lyric Opera... The only child of a wealthy couple, Fox was born in Chicago, Illinois, on June 15, 1926, and encouraged in the ."
- Ronald L. Davis, Opera in Chicago, 1966, p.393: "It began in 1950, when a young, dark-haired, forceful woman scarcely out of the debutante stage, named Carol Fox, daughter of a wealthy Chicago furniture manufacturer, returned home from studying voice in Europe."
- Maria Callas: the art behind the legend, Henry Wisneski, Arthur Germond, 1975: "Chicago had been without a resident opera company for eight years and Carol Fox, daughter of a wealthy Chicago furniture manufacturer, Lawrence Kelly, a real estate agent and insurance broker, and conductor Nicola Rescigno organized the ..."
- Theatre arts, Volume 43, 1959: "She engaged Pino Donati, an Italian who was described as an artistic director well known in European theatres. That may well be true, but Mr. Donati arrived in Chicago as "musical assistant to the general manager." Enough said."
