Russell Allen New Chief Executive at Virginia Opera
Chief Executive: Russell Allen
"A former manager of Virginia Opera, Russell Allen, is returning to take the top administrative post. Starting Sept. 19, Allen will be the chief executive of the statewide opera company. 'I’m absolutely thrilled. He is one of the very best,' said Alan Albert, president of the opera board, by phone on Thursday. Allen is a longtime arts manager who most recently served for three years as executive director of The Washington Ballet. He left that position in June. Other jobs he has had since he was general manager at Virginia Opera, from 1994 to 2000, include executive director of Orlando Ballet....On Thursday the company also launched searches for new artistic and music directors. Virginia Opera fired its longtime artistic director, Peter Mark, in
Artistic Advisor: Robin Thompson
November. Since then, the company has relied on an artistic adviser, Robin Thompson, formerly with New York City Opera, to guide the season. He will remain in that role during the search. The company expects the search to take a year, and for the new artistic director to be in place for the 2013-2014 season. In the meantime, John Kennelly has been named interim artistic director. Kennelly has been producing director of the opera company since 2000." [Source] Check out profiles of Russell Allen by clicking here and here.
