Opera Theatre of Rochester Records
Scope and Contents
This collection consists of the records of the Opera Theatre of Rochester, an organization that produced professional opera in Rochester from 1962 to 1999. The materials in this collection include documents, correspondence, slides, photographs and video recordings. Materials in this collection date between 1979 and 2004.
Dates
- Creation: Majority of material found within 1979-2004
- Creation: 1955-2004
Conditions Governing Access
There are no restrictions regarding access to or use of the collection.
Conditions Governing Use
Permission to publish, reproduce, distribute, or use in any current or future manifestations must be obtained in writing from the Rochester Public Library Local History and Genealogy Division.
Administrative History
The Opera Theatre of Rochester originated in 1962, under the leadership of Ruth Y. Rosenberg. A pianist with Broadway connections, Rosenberg led the organization until her death in 1988. The organization existed to promote opera in Rochester, New York, sometimes struggling financially and going through bankruptcy and reorganization in 1985. It identified talent, booked performers and hired venues, serving as a local production company. Following Rosenberg's death, financial difficulties continued even after Glenn West became the director in 1990. The lack of an appropriate venue hindered opera performances on top of the weakness of the organization itself. After struggling through the 1990s, the organization came under the umbrella of the Rochester Broadway Theater League (RBTL), changing its name to Opera Rochester along the way. This partnership lasted until 2003, at which time the RBTL decided the partnership was no longer viable. Lacking any other instituational support, Opera Rochester folded. Several key personnel went on to form Mercury Opera, which operated from 2005 to 2010, finally ceasing to exist in June 2012.
Extent
9.0 Cubic Feet (9 cartons.)
Language of Materials
English
Arrangement
This collection consists of 9 boxes. The collection was found in stacks mostly rehoused. No documentation of the collection's original arrangement exists. It appears that the collection was kept in original order, which would explain the mixed contents and jumps in years between and within boxes. Due to the lack of documentation, the decision was made to retain the order as found in describing the collection. Boxes 8 and 9 contain images and audiovisual materials. These two boxes have been separated into their own series for clarity.
Box 1: Finances and Operations, early 1980s
Box 2: Operations and Productions, 1990s.
Box 3: 1986 bankruptcy; 1990s board meetings and other documents.
Box 4: Operational and Financial Information, mostly 1990s, some 1980s.
Box 5: Finances, 1980s; Operations and Productions, 1990s/2000s.
Box 6: Operating and Production records, early-mid 1980s/early 1990s; Programs 1964-1998.
Box 7: Administrative and Operating Records, 1999-2004
Series I: Photographs, Slides and Audiovisual Materials (Boxes 8 and 9)
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The provenance of this collection is unknown.
Bibliography
Opera Guild of Rochester. "History." Accessed June 22, 2020 from https://www.operaguildofrochester.org/history.
Pitcher, John. "The Big Solo." Democrat & Chronicle (newspaper), Rochester, New York. February 16, 2003, pages 33 and 36.
"R. Rosenberg, Impresario of Local Opera." Democrat & Chronicle (newspaper), Rochester, New York. July 19, 1988, page 13.
- Title
- A Guide to the Opera Theatre of Rochester Records
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Cheri Crist
- Date
- 2014
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- Undetermined
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
- Language of description note
- English
Repository Details
Part of the Local History & Genealogy Division Repository
115 South Ave.
Rochester 14604 USA
585-428-8370
585-428-8353 (Fax)
lochistref@libraryweb.org