The History of Finger Lakes Opera
On a brilliant summer’s day in 2012 on the campus of the State University of New York at Geneseo, Finger Lakes Opera, Inc., was born. Artistic Director and Founder Gerard Floriano and then SUNY Geneseo President Christopher Dahl envisioned creating a summer professional opera festival in the heart of the Finger Lakes, where outstanding singers, designers and directors could come together to create bold new productions of grand operatic masterpieces resplendent with spectacular sets, dazzling costumes, inventive staging, all accompanied by a professional orchestra. Floriano and Dahl also envisaged the company enlivening the local community through its residency and by the potential 2000 plus attendees who would attend performances each summer. For three years, Finger Lakes Opera (FLO) presented fabulous productions under SUNY Geneseo’s umbrella.
In October 2016, in the midst of planning for the 2017 season, SUNY Geneseo opted not to continue the partnership. FLO’s advisory council believed in Floriano and Dahl’s original vision and was committed to its continuation. Thus, within several months, the council secured 501(c)(3) status to continue operating as a non-profit arts organization. A board was formed, by-laws were created, and articles of incorporation drawn up.
In addition to incorporating, FLO also needed to find a new performing home, and Canandaigua answered the call. Nestled in the heart of the Finger Lakes, this community is a beautiful location for summer opera performances. The name Canandaigua is derived from the Seneca (Kanandarque, Ganandogan, Ga-nun-da-gwa, or Konondaigua). In a modern transcription, the historic village is rendered as tganǫdæ:gwęh, meaning the chosen spot. FLO believes both are well suited for each other. Main stage performances are held in the state-of-the-art theater at the Canandaigua Academy while the smaller scale shows featuring young artists are held in the newly renovated Fort Hill Performing Arts Center.
During the first three years as a new, non-profit organization, the board functioned not only as passionate advocates and active volunteers but also essentially staff. They, along with Artistic Director Gerard Floriano, were responsible for the planning and production of FLO’s fully staged opera as well as the concert, currently called Opera HITS! In the 2018 season, FLO established a Young Artist Program and offered its first children’s production, Little Red’s Most Unusual Day. The Young Artist Program serves as a training ground for emerging professional singers, and at the end of the 2019
summer season, FLO received a major gift that elevated the program’s status. Now called the Grand Master Mutsuo Tomita Young Artist Program, FLO awarded twelve spots for the 2020 summer season. The goal of the program is to provide each participant a weekly stipend, housing, vocal workshops, masterclasses and, of course, the opportunity to perform alongside the seasoned professional artists of FLO.
In 2018 FLO secured a grant from the New York Council on the Arts (NYSCA) to support its first staff person, a part-time executive director. In late February, Elizabeth G. Long was hired to assume this position. Long has over fifteen years of fundraising and management experience in the non-profit performing arts business and began her tenure March 1, 2019. During her first season with FLO, she helped the organization balance its budget, increase earned and contributed revenue by 52% and guide the board into a strategic planning process.
In mid-March of 2020, while promoting the summer season, the world came to a halt with the Covid-19 pandemic. It became clear that for FLO to ensure the safety of its artists, staff, and patrons, and to remain financially viable, the responsible action was to postpone its entire summer season. FLO enhanced its online presence by using the talents of its 2020 Tomita Young Artists and select mainstage artists through the presentation of recitals and collaborative performances. From late May – mid-August 2020, FLO presented four concerts, two recitals and four video-podcasts. FLO also committed to producing educational and outreach programs in the fall of 2020 as a means to continue bringing more opera to more people.
The following is a listing of all productions and principal artists, designers, and directors since FLO’s inception.
In October 2016, in the midst of planning for the 2017 season, SUNY Geneseo opted not to continue the partnership. FLO’s advisory council believed in Floriano and Dahl’s original vision and was committed to its continuation. Thus, within several months, the council secured 501(c)(3) status to continue operating as a non-profit arts organization. A board was formed, by-laws were created, and articles of incorporation drawn up.
In addition to incorporating, FLO also needed to find a new performing home, and Canandaigua answered the call. Nestled in the heart of the Finger Lakes, this community is a beautiful location for summer opera performances. The name Canandaigua is derived from the Seneca (Kanandarque, Ganandogan, Ga-nun-da-gwa, or Konondaigua). In a modern transcription, the historic village is rendered as tganǫdæ:gwęh, meaning the chosen spot. FLO believes both are well suited for each other. Main stage performances are held in the state-of-the-art theater at the Canandaigua Academy while the smaller scale shows featuring young artists are held in the newly renovated Fort Hill Performing Arts Center.
During the first three years as a new, non-profit organization, the board functioned not only as passionate advocates and active volunteers but also essentially staff. They, along with Artistic Director Gerard Floriano, were responsible for the planning and production of FLO’s fully staged opera as well as the concert, currently called Opera HITS! In the 2018 season, FLO established a Young Artist Program and offered its first children’s production, Little Red’s Most Unusual Day. The Young Artist Program serves as a training ground for emerging professional singers, and at the end of the 2019
summer season, FLO received a major gift that elevated the program’s status. Now called the Grand Master Mutsuo Tomita Young Artist Program, FLO awarded twelve spots for the 2020 summer season. The goal of the program is to provide each participant a weekly stipend, housing, vocal workshops, masterclasses and, of course, the opportunity to perform alongside the seasoned professional artists of FLO.
In 2018 FLO secured a grant from the New York Council on the Arts (NYSCA) to support its first staff person, a part-time executive director. In late February, Elizabeth G. Long was hired to assume this position. Long has over fifteen years of fundraising and management experience in the non-profit performing arts business and began her tenure March 1, 2019. During her first season with FLO, she helped the organization balance its budget, increase earned and contributed revenue by 52% and guide the board into a strategic planning process.
In mid-March of 2020, while promoting the summer season, the world came to a halt with the Covid-19 pandemic. It became clear that for FLO to ensure the safety of its artists, staff, and patrons, and to remain financially viable, the responsible action was to postpone its entire summer season. FLO enhanced its online presence by using the talents of its 2020 Tomita Young Artists and select mainstage artists through the presentation of recitals and collaborative performances. From late May – mid-August 2020, FLO presented four concerts, two recitals and four video-podcasts. FLO also committed to producing educational and outreach programs in the fall of 2020 as a means to continue bringing more opera to more people.
The following is a listing of all productions and principal artists, designers, and directors since FLO’s inception.
SUMMER 2018
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JOHANN STRAUSS JR.’S DIE FLEDERMAUSElena O’Connor, as Rosalinde
Jonathan Michie, as Eisenstein Cree Carrico, as Adele Bray Wilkins, as Alfred Clara Nieman, as Orlofsky |
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OPERA POPSOverture to Le nozze di Figaro – Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
"Prendi per me" from L’elisir d’amore – Gaetano Donizetti "Au fond du temple saint" The Pearl Fishers – Georges Bizet Intermezzo from Cavalleria rusticana – Pietro Mascagni "La donna è mobile" from Rigoletto – Giuseppe Verdi "Barcarolle" from The Tales of Hoffman – Jacques Offenbach Humming Chorus from Madama Butterfly – Giacomo Puccini Overture to Die Fledermaus – Johann Strauss Jr. "Va pensiero" from Nabucco – Giuseppe Verdi "They Say It’s Wonderful" from Annie Get Your Gun – Irving Berlin "Anything You Can Do, I Can Do Better" from Annie Get Your Gun – Irving Berlin "Gee, Officer Krupke" from West Side Story – Leonard Bernstein "Climb Ev’ry Mountain" from The Sound of Music – Richard Rodgers |
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LITTLE RED’S MOST UNUSUAL DAYA captivating children’s opera aimed at introducing our young audiences to the wonderful world of opera.
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SUMMER 2017
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PUCCINI’S TOSCAJennifer Rowley, as Tosca
Yeghishe Manucharyan, as Cavaradossi Corey Crider, as Scarpia Gerard Floriano, Conductor Fenton Lamb, Stage Director Jeff Ridenour, Scenic Design Nic Minetor, Lighting Design |
SUMMER 2016
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GIUSEPPE VERDI’S LA TRAVIATADanielle Talamantes, as Violetta
Yi Li, as Alfredo Mark Walters, as Germont Gerard Floriano, Conductor Fenton Lamb, Stage Director Jeff Ridenour, Scenic Design |
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IRVING BERLIN’S I LOVE A PIANOJoseph Dellger, Baritone
Missy Dowse, Soprano Michelle Liu Coughlin, Mezzo-soprano Alan M-L Wager, Tenor Gary John LaRosa, Stage Director Aaron McAllister, Musical Director |
SUMMER 2015
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GAETANO DONIZETTI’S ELIXIR OF LOVEAndrea Carroll, as Adina
Rolando Sanz, as Nemorino Liam Bonner, as Sergeant Belcore Corey Crider, as Dr. Dulcamara Angela Libertella Calabrese, as Gianetta Gerard Floriano, Conductor E. Loren Meeker, Stage Director Laura Fine Hawkes, Scenic Design Nic Minetor, Lighting Design |
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RODGERS AND HAMMERSTEIN’S A GRAND NIGHT FOR SINGINGEvan Jones, Baritone
Nathan Meyer, Tenor Whitney Meyer, Soprano Marisa Rivera, Mezzo-soprano Hallie Silverston, Soprano Gary John LaRosa, Stage Director Aaron McAllister, Musical Director |
SUMMER 2014
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GEORGES BIZET’S CARMENJ’Nai Bridges, as Carmen
Gregory Kunde, as Don José Luis Ledesma, as Escamillo Danielle Pastin, as Micaela Gerard Floriano, Conductor E. Loren Meeker, Stage Director Laura Fine Hawkes, Scenic Design Nic Minetor, Lighting Design |
SUMMER 2013
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GALA PERFORMANCE IN AUGUSTDanielle Pastin, Soprano
Jessica Best, Mezzo-soprano Rolando Sanz, Tenor Evan Jones, Baritone Gerard Floriano, Conductor Finger Lakes Opera Orchestra |