Since its inception, under the direction of Dr. James J. Soluri in 1978, Oswego Opera Theater has produced annual fully staged musical productions, involving hundreds of local musicians, technicians, designers, costumers, and lighting engineers.
From the first “full scale” offering of Gilbert and Sullivan’s operetta, The HMS Pinafore, Oswego Opera Theater has performed the classics of Mozart, romantic works by Puccini, Bizet and Verdi, and contemporary compositions by Carlisle Floyd, Leonard Bernstein, and Kurt Weill.
In addition to featuring local talents, the company has helped aspiring young singers start and further their careers by giving them the experience of performing leading roles not available to them in larger opera houses.
Several operas have had large casts of children, high school youth, and college students in both major and minor roles and in the chorus, giving them the opportunity to work with professional musicians in the fields of opera and musical theater.
In the past, Oswego Opera Theater has joined forces with the Bronx Opera Company in partnering productions, and has used nationally known directors.
While most performances have been held in Waterman Theater on the SUNY Oswego campus, the Opera has also performed in the Robinson-Faust Theatre
of the Performing Arts at Oswego High School and in other area schools, churches, and halls.
August 10, 1933 – July 10, 2006