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Nickel City Opera

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Shea's Performing Arts Center, venue of the Nickel City Opera

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

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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 Fletcher-class destroyer 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

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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

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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

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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]

References

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