Peter Volpe as "Don Giovanni" in 2006. 
2005's "Carmen" (Kate Aldrich) and Don Jose (Richard Troxell). 
Carmen (Kate Aldrich) and Don Jose (Richard Troxell) in PORTopera's production of "Carmen," 2005. 
PORTopera's first-rate chorus in the chaotic end of Act 1, "Il Barbieri di
Siviglia," 2007. Russ Burleigh Photo. A History
Bruce Hangen, who had been Music Director of the Portland Symphony for 10 years (1976-1985), had dreamed of forming an opera company in Maine. Even though he left Maine to become Music Director of the Omaha (NE) Symphony, he dreamed of returning to Maine for opera with a summer season. When Portland’s State Theater became available in 1994, there was at last a place where opera in full production could be performed. Hangen assembled a group of friends and supporters to form the Portland Opera Repertory Theatre (PORTopera).
The company’s first performances took place in July, 1995 at the State Theater with Bizet’s “Carmen”. The production was an instant success both with critics and audiences. In 1996, the company produced Puccini’s “Madama Butterfly” at the State with an ever-greater acclaim. The 1996 season also introduced PORTopera’s Young Artists Program—an educational endeavor to help the careers of emerging young singers.
In 1997, PORTopera moved to the newly-renovated Merrill Auditorium in Portland with a full-scale production of Puccini’s “Tosca” that was sold out in two performances and received wide acclaim not only locally, but nationally. The Young Artists Program was expanded to include six operatic recital programs in other parts of the state.
In 1998, the company presented a new production at the Merrill of three performances of Verdi’s “La Traviata”starring Mary Dunleavy as Violetta. It was yet another overwhelming success. In addition, PORTopera’s Young Artists Program exposed opera to thousands of Mainers in live performances around the state and to additional audiences with the company’s first ever live broadcast on Maine Public Radio.
In 1999, PORTopera presented three performances of Puccini’s “La Boheme” at the Merrill and increased the Young Artists Program to ten recitals in Maine. The Merrill performances were completely sold out and the Boston Globe review stated, “This company is no longer a ragtag provincial operation; with this show it has attained a higher artistic standard than anything we have witnessed recently in Boston.”
In 2000, PORTopera expanded to three opera productions at the Merrill with Verdi’s “Rigoletto”, Mozart’s “The Impresario” and Menotti’s “The Medium”, in a total of five performances. The Young Artists presented their own version of the Mozart opera in performances in six locations elsewhere in Maine. A record 5700 patrons enjoyed the Merrill performances, and hundreds more the touring Young Artists production.
In 2001, PORTopera presented three performances at the Merrill of Mozart’s “The Marriage of Figaro,” and a touring production of Rossini’s “Barber of Seville” with PORTopera Young Artists. In addition, the company collaborated with other organizations with film showings, lectures, readings and other activities related to the times in which the two operas were written, and named the entire Season “FigaroFest.”. More than 10,000 people attended “FigaroFest” events.
In 2002 the company offered Gounod’s “Faust” for its mainstage production at the Merrill and a touring production of Bizet’s “Dr. Miracle” with a group of young singers from Maine in a renamed young artists program called Maine’s Emerging Artists. This program features young singers with connections to the state of Maine. It is directed by Ellen Chickering, a noted soprano and member of the faculty at the University of Southern Maine School of Music.
In 2003, the company presented “Lucia di Lammermoor, ” conducted by Stephen Lord. Founder and Artistic Director Bruce Hangen left the company to pursue his many interests in Boston. Dona D. Vaughn was named Artistic Director in his place, and Maestro Lord was the first in a series of guest conductors to lead PORT productions. In late 2003, the company also adopted a new name, PORTopera
A second guest conductor, Giovanni Reggioli, joined the company in 2004 for its production of the famous opera duo of “Cavalleria Rusticana” and “il Pagliacci.” Artistic Director Vaughn also resumed her role of Stage Director. Maine’s Emerging Artists took Puccini’s “Gianni Schicci” on tour to several locations in the State.
Maestro Lord returned to PORTopera in 2005 to conduct three performance of Bizet’s “Carmen” which had Maine native Kate Aldrich in the title role. While the state had always been well represented in the PORTopera Chorus and in minor roles and technical staff, this marked the first time a Maine singer had a major role in a mainstage production. Maine’s Emerging Artists toured the state with a reprise of Bizet’s “Dr. Miracle.”
2006 saw the return of Maestro Reggioli conducting Mozart's masterpiece “Don Giovanni” with Peter Volpe in the title role. Dona D. Vaughn continued in her dual capacity as Artistic and Stage Director. The MEA program, again ably led by Ellen Chickering presented Mozart's little known and rarely performed “L'Oca del Cairo”.
Prior to curtain in 2006, Dona D. Vaughn, our Artistic Director, announced that with the cost of travel being high, we would return to Seville in 2007. With that, Rossini's classic “Barber of Seville” was announced as the 2007 production. Maestro Giovanni Reggioli returned to conduct this production.
PORTopera’s Mission Statement
“PORTopera is dedicated to equally high standards of artistic excellence and personal effectiveness. Its mission is to present to the people of Maine great operatic masterpieces in productions that are lively, beautiful and important locally, regionally and nationally. Its objective is to do so within a principled and empowered environment.”
PORTopera’s Future Plans
PORTopera plans to continue its growth with more mainstage productions at the Merrill in Portland in the summer and to expand its outreach productions in all parts of the state, all as part of its summer Opera Festival concept. In addition, the company. plans to have productions at the Merrill Auditorium throughout the year. The company’s mainstage productions will continue to be original, fully staged, with sets and costumes created or adapted by the company specifically for its own productions. The company will continue to provide opportunities for Maine artists in particular and to present singers with international reputations such as those already engaged including Mary Dunleavy, Robert Brubaker, Mark Rucker, Pamela Armstrong, Guiping Deng, Adam Klein, John Cheek, Karen Notare, David Miller, Gerard Powers, Ying Huang, Marguerite Krull, Alexandra Deshorties, John MacMaster, Kate Aldrich, Peter Volpe, Jan Opalach, and Monica Yunus and other world class artists.
RETURN TO TOP
