PITTSBURGH, June 26 /PRNewswire/ — The Pittsburgh Opera board of directors yesterday promoted Christopher Hahn to serve as General Director, effective immediately. Mr. Hahn has been the Opera’s Artistic Director since 2000. He received the unanimous endorsement of the Opera’s board. The appointment followed a rigorous six-month international search and interviews with candidates from many prestigious opera companies.
Board Chair Michele Fabrizi said: “Christopher Hahn’s appointment as General Director is a great achievement for Pittsburgh Opera. Christopher has consistently established his leadership and artistic credentials during his tenure here and has garnered tremendous respect within the Company, the community, and the international opera world. In his role as artistic director, he has led productions which have won us national recognition. He has also demonstrated very strong administrative and fundraising skills. Pittsburgh Opera is well positioned for today and in the future with Christopher at the helm.”
Mr. Hahn stated: “It is a true honor and privilege to accept the leadership of Pittsburgh Opera. In my eight years with the Company I have developed enormous respect for the local community which has been so supportive of our work and of me personally. The staff and I look forward to taking this outstanding opera company to even greater heights.”
Board President H. Woodruff Turner said: “We are delighted that Christopher Hahn will serve as our General Director. He is a talented and dedicated artist and administrator. This is an important time for Pittsburgh Opera, as we begin an exciting season and work to complete our expansive new building in the Strip District. Christopher’s devotion and experience will make this remarkable opera company even better.”
Mr. Hahn succeeds Mark J. Weinstein who moved to the Washington National Opera as Executive Director in February. Since then, Dr. Joseph A. Marasco Jr., a former board president, has served as Interim Managing Director. “We are immensely pleased that Christopher will take the helm of our company. With the dynamic team of Christopher Hahn and Music Director Antony Walker, our company could not be in better hands.”
About Christopher Hahn
A native of Port Elizabeth, South Africa, Christopher Hahn was trained as a stage director and actor. He began his opera career in 1983 as Rehearsal Administrator for the San Francisco Opera, later managing the San Francisco Opera Center and its Merola Opera Program, the nation’s top program for training young singers.
Mr. Hahn subsequently moved to the Los Angeles Opera as artistic administrator, working with Placido Domingo and Peter Hemmings, its founding director.
He is a sought-after juror at various American and international vocal competitions, including the Metropolitan Opera National Council auditions.
For more information, visit http://www.pittsburghopera.org/
Pittsburgh Opera, celebrating 70 years of opera in southwestern Pennsylvania, is a member of OPERA America, the national organization for opera companies, and the Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council. Pittsburgh Opera’s performances are supported, in part, by the National Endowment for the Arts, Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, the PA Department of Community and Economic Development, and Allegheny Regional Asset District.
Pittsburgh Opera
CONTACT: Beth Parker of Pittsburgh Opera, +1-412-281-0912, ext. 248,[email protected]
Web site: http://www.pittsburghopera.org/
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