Metropolitan Opera National Company
| Company type | Opera troupe |
|---|---|
| Industry | Performing arts |
| Predecessor | Metropolitan Opera (affiliated) |
| Founded | 1965 |
| Founder | Anthony Bliss |
| Defunct | 1967 |
Area served | United States, Canada |
Key people | Risë Stevens (Artistic Director), Michael Manuel (Administrative Director) |
| Products | Opera performances |
The Metropolitan Opera National Company (MONC) was an American opera troupe with a brief existence from 1965 until 1967, serving as a secondary touring ensemble affiliated with the Metropolitan Opera. It showcased emerging talent from the United States and Canada and received joint sponsorship from the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.[1] Under the leadership of mezzo-soprano Risë Stevens, the company played a pivotal role in launching the careers of numerous distinguished opera performers.[1]
History
The concept of MONC originated with Anthony Bliss, who was president of the Metropolitan Opera Association, and gained endorsement from President John F. Kennedy, who publicly introduced the initiative in 1963.[1] The majority of financial backing came from philanthropist and publisher Lila Acheson Wallace.[1] Although Metropolitan Opera director Rudolf Bing expressed public approval for the endeavor, he harbored private reservations and later characterized it as a conventional American educational venture.[1]
In 1963, Bing appointed mezzo-soprano Risë Stevens as Artistic Director and longtime Metropolitan Opera stage manager Michael Manuel as administrative director.[1] Stevens concentrated on nurturing young artists, while Manuel handled the operational aspects of production.[1]
Following an extensive audition process lasting one year, rehearsals commenced in the summer of 1965. Early contracted performers included sopranos Clarice Carson, Maralin Niska, Mary Beth Peil, and Marilyn Zschau; mezzo-sopranos Joy Davidson and Huguette Tourangeau; tenors Enrico Di Giuseppe and Harry Theyard; baritones John Fiorito and Julian Patrick; bass-baritones Andrij Dobriansky and Arnold Voketaitis; as well as bass Paul Plishka.[1]
During its inaugural season (September 1965 through May 1966), MONC delivered 260 performances across 72 different cities. The repertoire included Carlisle Floyd's Susannah directed by José Quintero, Rossini's La Cenerentola, Puccini's Madama Butterfly, and Bizet's Carmen. The company's premiere took place on September 29, 1965, at Clowes Memorial Hall in Indianapolis.[1]
The second season (September 1966 to May 1967) presented works such as Verdi's La traviata, Puccini's La bohème, Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro, and Britten's The Rape of Lucretia. However, plans for a third season were abandoned after board members of the Metropolitan Opera, influenced by Bing, voted in December 1966 to terminate the company.[1]