In 1972 a group of artists from the Annapolis Summer Garden Theater Youth Group got together and gave birth to the Annapolis Opera Company. Their search to cast the title role for Gian-Carlo Menotti’s The Medium led them to soprano Martha Wright, an active performer, and producer, who turned down the role but instead agreed to produce the opera and more importantly for the future of Annapolis Opera, to take on leading the organization. This became the very first Annapolis Opera production and Martha Wright became its first President.
The Annapolis community supported the company from the outset. For seven years the company used several performance spaces: the U.S. Naval Academy, St. John’s College, Annapolis High School and even the Hilton Hotel ballroom, which was the site of the first performance, before finding a permanent home in the Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts as a founding resident company in 1979, a relationship that continues today.
Annapolis Opera has benefited from the leadership of Artistic Director, Ronald J. Gretz, and Stage Director, Braxton Peters, who have headed the artistic staff for many years, providing artistic continuity and integrity. The company has expanded into the community and provided educational programming for all ages including special operas for children and lectures on the art form to organizations and community groups. The Annual Vocal Competition, established in 1988, is a recognized stepping stone for young artists in the Mid-Atlantic region in their career development.
Since its founding, forty-five years ago, seventeen Presidents have led the organization and carried Annapolis Opera to its current position. Members of the Board of Trustees have included several mayors of Annapolis, retired leaders of government and business, educators, retired opera singers…people from all walks of life who share a love of opera.
Annapolis Opera Production History
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2017 – 2018: Little Women, La Traviata
2016 – 2017: South Pacific, Madama Butterfly
2015 – 2016: Faust
2014 – 2015: Cosi fan tutte
2013 – 2014: La Boheme
2012 – 2013: Aida, Rigoletto
2011 – 2012: Romeo and Juliet
2010 – 2011: The Marriage of Figaro
2009 – 2010: Tosca
2008 – 2009: Cavalleria Rusticana, Pagliacci
2007 – 2008: Carmen
2006 – 2007: The Barber of Seville
2005 – 2006: The Magic Flute
2004 – 2005: Madama Butterfly
2003 – 2004: The Mikado
2002 – 2003: Die Fledermaus, La Traviata
2001 – 2002: La Boheme, Don Giovanni
2000 – 2001: Rigoletto, Cosi fan tutte
1999 – 2000: Tosca
1998 – 1999: The Marriage of Figaro
1997 – 1998: Carmen -
1996 – 1997: Madama Butterfly, The Merry Widow
1995 – 1996: The Elixir of Love
1994 – 1995: La Traviata
1992 – 1993: La Boheme, The Student Prince
1991 – 1992: The Mikado, Carmen
1990 – 1991: Die Fledermaus
1989 – 1990: Amahl and the Night Visitors, Madama Butterfly
1988 – 1989: HMS Pinafore
1986 – 1987: Amahl and the Night Visitors
1983 – 1984: Rigoletto, Cosi fan tutte, The Merry Widow
1982 – 1983: The Barber of Seville, The Medium, Man of La Mancha
1981 – 1982: Die Fledermaus, La Boheme
1980 – 1981: La Traviata, Don Giovanni, Hansel and Gretel
1979 – 1980: Faust, HMS Pinafore, Madama Butterfly
1978 – 1979: Carmen, Don Pasquale, The Magic Flute
1977 – 1978: Rigoletto, The Turn of the Screw, The Marriage of Figaro
1976 – 1977: Tosca, The Student Prince, The Elixir of Love
1975 – 1976: La Traviata, Dido and Aeneas, Cosi fan tutte
1974 – 1975: La Boheme, La serva padrona, The Bear, Die Fledermaus
1973 – 1974: Madama Butterfly, The Barber of Seville
1972 – 1973: The Medium, The Beggars Opera