Nickel City Opera Explained

Nickel City Opera is a small non-profit based in Buffalo, New York. Founded in 2004 by Valerian Ruminski, the organization has commissioned operas and has staged some world premieres. The company collaborated with local organizations in Western New York such as the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, producing a wide range of works.[1]

History

The company was founded in 2004, and produced Rossini's The Barber of Seville, its first opera in June 2009 at the Riviera Theatre. The following year, 2010, saw a production of Rigoletto.[2]

Nickel City Opera has produced several operas, including Il trovatore,[3] La Bohème,[4] Don Pasquale,[5] La fille du régiment, Rigoletto,[6] Tosca,[7] Carmen,[8] I Pagliacci,[9] Il tabarro,[10] Der Schauspieldirektor,[11] [12] Le Nozze di Figaro,[13] [14] La Traviata,[15] The Barber of Seville,[16] and The Music Shop by Richard Wargo.[17]

In 2010 the NCO presented Gian Carlo Menotti's Christmas opera Amahl and the Night Visitors at the Riviera Theatre, and repeated it for four more years at the Riviera Theatre and in the Westminster Presbyterian Church (Buffalo, New York).[18]

In 2011, as a special cultural event, the NCO presented a production of Il tabarro by Giacomo Puccini, directed by Henry Akina on board the United States Navy warship USS The Sullivans (DD-537), a decommissioned and one of Buffalo's landmarks, which serves as a museum ship and is anchored at the Buffalo and Erie County Naval & Military Park in Buffalo, New York.[19] The USS The Sullivans (DD-537) served as an integral part of the staging.[20]

In 2017, Matthias Manasi conducted a production of Der Schauspieldirektor by Mozart, with particular attention to historically informed performance practice which was particularly appreciated by critics.[21]

Opera America Service Award

In May 2017 Opera America awarded the NCO and Valerian Ruminski, artistic director of the NCO its annual Service Award which recognizes those who "promote opera in their communities and work tirelessly to ensure the highest possible artistic quality and community service."[22]

Premieres

In June 2016, the NCO produced the world premiere of SHOT! composed by Persis Vehar with libretto by Gabrielle Vehar, about the assassination of President McKinley, produced at Shea's Performing Arts Center,[23] [24] The sets re-created scenes from the 1901 Pan-American Exposition, with 40-foot projections of original 1901 Edison footage of the exposition, and rare historic photos.[25] [26]

Directors

Michael Ching was music director and principal conductor of the NCO from 2012 to 2017. He was succeeded by Matthias Manasi as music director and principal conductor of the NCO from 2017 to 2021.[27] [28]

Stage directors of opera productions at the NCO include David Grabarkewitz, and Marc Verzatt.[29] [30]

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Bracely Dawn . Classical: Continued success for BPO, Nickel City Opera . buffalonews.com . February 16, 2016 . January 15, 2017.
  2. News: Mary Kunz Goldman . NCO on a - What else? - 5-year winning streak . The Buffalo News . June 24, 2013 . August 24, 2023.
  3. News: Jan Jezioro . Il Trovatore at The Riviera Theatre - NC Opera Buffalo launches its third season with big plans . Artvoice . June 15, 2011 . April 8, 2015.
  4. News: Mary Kunz Goldman . With all the right touches, N C Opera does justice to La Bohème . The Buffalo News . July 2, 2012 . September 17, 2018.
  5. News: Mary Kunz Goldman . Nickel City Opera's 'Don Pasquale' is a rare treat . The Buffalo News . June 27, 2013 . July 6, 2013.
  6. News: Mary Kunz Goldman . Magnificent Rigoletto proves NC Opera is for real . The Buffalo News . June 27, 2010 . July 28, 2020.
  7. News: Mary Kunz Goldman . NC Opera Buffalo gives depth to dark masterpiece . The Buffalo News . June 27, 2014 . January 23, 2022.
  8. News: Edmonton Opera . Edmonton Opera program - Biography Robert Clark . issuu.com. March 2, 2017. April 2, 2024.
  9. News: Mary Kunz Goldman . Opera on the upswing; while other opera companies are floundering, Nickel City Opera flourishes by thinking outside the box . . June 6, 2011. April 17, 2024.
  10. News: Mary Kunz Goldman . Setting enhances sultry drama of 'Il tabarro'; Brilliant NC Opera Buffalo cast stages Puccini's steamy opera . The Buffalo News . July 3, 2011 . September 8, 2020.
  11. News: Buffalorising . W. A. Mozart - The Impresario . Buffalorising . May 26, 2017 . October 18, 2018.
  12. News: WNY News . Matthias Manasi-The Impresario by W.A. Mozart . The Am-Pol Eagle . June 1, 2017 . November 7, 2017.
  13. News: Mary Kunz Goldman . NC Opera Buffalo's The Marriage of Figaro is a magical mix . The Buffalo News . June 27, 2015 . March 24, 2023.
  14. News: Eileen Buckley . NCO: The Marriage of Figaro. WBFO . June 25, 2015 . July 17, 2016.
  15. News: Michael Rabice . La Traviata at NCO Buffalo . Broadway World . February 5, 2019 . October 3, 2022.
  16. News: Frank Housh . The Nickel City Opera Triumphs With A Slapstick Romp Through Rossini's Classic Opera Buffa . Breakingdownthelaw . July 23, 2023. July 23, 2023.
  17. News: The Public Stuff . N C Opera Buffalo-The Music Shop . Daily Public . November 8, 2017 . October 2, 2019.
  18. News: The Buffalo News / Staff . NC Opera Buffalo - Star of wonder with 'Amahl and the Night Visitors' . The Buffalo News . January 6, 2016 . September 20, 2017.
  19. News: Mark Sommer . Shipshape opera performances on deck; Naval Park provides stage for 'Il Tabarro' . . July 1, 2011 . December 17, 2018.
  20. News: Mary Kunz Goldman . NCO on a - What else? - 5-year winning streak . . June 24, 2013 . August 24, 2023.
  21. News: Aryeh Oron . Matthias Manasi (Conductor, Piano) . Bach Cantatas Website . April 28, 2022 . April 7, 2023.
  22. News: People in the News . Ruminski receives Opera America award, NCO prepares Roadshow Opera . The Am-Pol Eagle . May 11, 2017 . July 24, 2023.
  23. News: Michael Rabice . SHOT! A WORLD PREMIERE presented by NCO AT SHEA'S BUFFALO THEATRE . Broadway World . May 16, 2016 . May 16, 2017.
  24. News: Mary Kunz Goldman. President McKinley is a hearty character in opera premiere. The Buffalo News . June 11, 2016. June 13, 2016.
  25. News: Sharon Cantillon . Nickel City Opera rehearses 'Shot!' . The Buffalo News . June 17, 2016 . June 24, 2016.
  26. News: Library of Congress . The Paper Print Film Collection at the Library of Congress . Library of Congress . July 11, 2008 . October 8, 2023.
  27. News: Features. Manasi to leave the NCO . The Am-Pol Eagle . June 18, 2021 . June 9, 2023.
  28. News: Volker Blech . Matthias Manasi: "Will mich wieder auf Europa konzentrieren" . Berliner Morgenpost. german . August 3, 2021. August 27, 2023.
  29. News: Am-Pol Eagle . NC Operas's Tosca is this weekend in N. Tonawanda . Am-Pol Eagle . June 28, 2014. August 29, 2014.
  30. News: Ed Adamczyk . NC Opera Buffalo asks "Would You Kill for Love?" . Niagara Gazette . June 26, 2014 . February 14, 2016.

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