For Lake George Opera, time right for new name

After years of talking about it, Lake George Opera at Saratoga will change its name to Opera Saratoga.

“The company has been in Saratoga for 14 years and there had always been a bit of confusion because Lake George was in its name,” Artistic Director Curt Tucker said from Ohio, where he was auditioning singers for the company’s Young Artists program. “But two years ago, it was decided to make the change in time for the company’s 50th season. It’s a benchmark year and it made a lot of sense.”

The change will be effective almost immediately and will include a new website at www.operasaratoga.org. Subscribers will soon be receiving mailings and brochures detailing the changes, Tucker said.

He said the name change is also a reflection of the company’s commitment to the local community and to the patrons and audiences it serves. Until its move to Saratoga Springs, the company was based for years in Glens Falls and performed in various high schools and other venues. But surveys done over the years have shown that its audience comes from the entire Capital Region, regardless of where the company was based or where performances were given.

Still, Tucker said, he anticipated there might even be some confusion about the new name until people realize Opera Saratoga is really Lake George Opera. Fortunately, those in the opera field understand these types of changes, he said, because the new name is not the only change. Last July, John Douglas died after a long struggle with cancer. He had served the company for nine years as director of the Young Artist Program, chorus master and sometime conductor.

Laurie Rogers has been appointed the new director. Rogers works with Dallas Opera, where she has helped prepare several new operas, including the world premiere of Jake Heggie’s “Moby-Dick,” and has been the assistant conductor at Opera Company of Philadelphia for 13 seasons. Tucker said Rogers’ wealth of experience will have an immediate and substantial impact on the young singers.

Expanded board

Because next year is the company’s 50th season, the company decided to expand its board by 10 members for greater strength and to capitalize on its more varied backgrounds and talents. These include Joseph Erkes and Rosemarie Rosen of Menands; Lawrence Hamilton, Guy Mastrion, Joel Moss, Dr. Denise Polit and Gordon Sutin of Saratoga Springs; Marjorie Karowe of Schenectady; Daniel Nolan of Albany; Dr. Anthony Tartaglia of Delmar.

“There’s a lot of great energy in the company right now,” Tucker said.

Opera Saratoga’s 50th anniversary will feature “Die Fledermaus,” “Cosi Fan Tutte” and a commemorative concert.