New England Opera Club

THE JACOPO PERI AWARD

THE HONOREE FOR 2008
JANICE MANCINI DEL SESTO
THE GALA AWARD RECPTION WAS
DATE	Sunday, November 2, 2008
PLACE	Doubletree Guest Suites
	400 Soldiers Field Road
	Boston (Allston), MA
	(617) 783-0090

TIME	Cocktails: Five-thirty O'Clock Dinner: Six O'Clock

Fifteen Years of Successful Opera as General Manager of the Boston Lyric Opera Company

During her tenure, BLO has grown from 64th in size to 26th out of 116 U.S. opera companies and is the largest in New England attracting audience from all six states. In fifteen years, the Company has gone from a mainstage season in the then 850-seat Emerson Majestic Theatre to regularly sold-out performances in the 1,500-seat Shubert Theatre in the Citi Performing Arts Center. In 1998, BLO merged with Opera New England which became the Company’s education and community programs division, adding a one-hour production which is seen by 20,000 schoolchildren and families across New England annually. BLO is one of the few opera companies in the U.S. whose season is heard live over the airwaves: WGBH Radio’s broadcasts of its productions reach over 84,000 listeners each season, with an additional audience listening online.

In her first season at BLO, Ms. Del Sesto was cited in Boston Magazine’s “Names and Faces” feature as a “Person to Watch”, and again in 2003 when the magazine included Del Sesto in its list of the City’s “100 Most Powerful Women.” She has been honored as an outstanding alumna by her alma mater, New England Conservatory, and has served as Vice Chair of the Board of Directors of OPERA America. She is a frequent adjudicator of competitions, and has served as a peer reviewer, and as a panelist for the National Endowment for the Arts. Del Sesto is often a featured speaker on opera, the arts, and women in management.

“Since her appointment in 1992, Jan’s vision and leadership have resulted in the phenomenal growth of our audience, donor base, and international recognition of the Company” Mr. Akin said. “Still a relatively young opera company, BLO’s extraordinary growth has occurred during the years of Jan’s leadership and has surpassed that of companies much older than BLO’s 31 years. Her dedication to and passion for opera, the artists who create and perform it, and the audiences who enjoy it, have been a driving force in ensuring the future of opera in Boston which is at the core of BLO’s mission.”

Jacopo Peri (1561 - 1633) was a Florentine singer and composer. A member of the Florentine Camarata, he is generally credited for writing the very first opera DAFNE. His second was opera Eurydice composed in 1600 for the wedding of Maria de' Medici and Henri IV of France. The full score exists, and this opera is occasionally staged today.

THE PAST RECIPIENTS ARE LISTED:

DATE NAME COMMENT

2008 Janis Mancini del Sesto Fifteen Years of Successful Opera as General Manager of the Boston Lyric Opera Company

2007 Randolp J. Fuller A generous opera patron and scholar who founded the OPERA BOSTON company

2006 Stephen Lord A nationally renown opera conductor, Maestro Lord was Music Director of the Boston Lyric Opera for many years.

2005 Jeffrey Rink This talented symphonic conductor is acclaimed for his inovated productions of concert operas.

2004 Sarah Caldwell Music's Wonder Woman, she founded and was Artistic Director of the Opera Company of Boston

2003 Sharon Daniels Opera diva and director, she is now Director of the Opera Institue at Boston University.

2002 Bradley Pennington Founder and Artistic Director of the Boston Bel Canto Opera Company.

2001 Roland Hayes A posthumous award to the first African American male to win universal acclaim as a concert artist.

2000 Jan Curtis A promising contralto, who is making an extraordinary and successful effort to overcome an unfortunate handicap.

1999 D'Anna Fortunato This charming mezzo-soprano has delighted audiences with her many appearances in operas and recitals.

1998 Norman Kelley In roles from Wagner to Kurka, he was a tenor often featured by both the Metroplitan Opera and New York City opera companies.

1997 William Miranda A knowledgeable and innovative opera teacher, he founded and is president emeritus of the New England Opera Club.

1996 Scott Brumit Founder and General Manager of the Longwood Opera Company, he often participates in their productions.

1995 Robert Honeysucker His beautiful baritone voice has enhanced many opera productions in the Boston area and around the country.

1994 Susan Stone She created the "Brown Bag Opera",--an inovative program to introduce opera to children.

1993 Richard Conrad The founder, artistic director and featured vocalist at the Boston Academy of Music.

1992 John Balme A past music director and conductor of the Boston Lyric Opera Company.

1991 Patricia Craig Her performing career spans more than three decades of major roles in the leading opera houses of the world. She made her Metropolitan Opera debut in 1978.
1991 Richard Cassilly The husband of soprano Patricia Craig, he was a world-famous Wagnerian tenor and voice teacher.

1990 Ron Della Chiesa He is a knowlegable radio host for all styles of music and the voice of the Boston Symphony Orchestra broadcasts.
1989 Ernest Triplett He founded and performed in the Associated Artist Opera group, a predecessor to the Boston Lyric Opera Company.
1988 John Moriarty Legendary director of the New England Conservatory opera program, he is revered by generations of aspiring singers.
1987 Eleanor Steber Winning the 1940 Met Auditions award, she had a long and distinguished career.

1986 Donald Gramm A bass-baritone who appeared in many productions of both the New York City and the Boston Opera Companies.
1985 Phyllis Curtin This celebrated soprano of the New York City Opera was the dean of the Boston University opera department.

1984 Boris Goldovsky A pianist and opera producer, he enhaced for many years the intermission features of the Metropolitan Opera broadcasts.

1983 Schuyler Chapin An entrepeneur in the music industry, he was General Manager of the Metropolitan Opera from 1971 to 1975.

1982 Eunice Alberts This famous contralto from Boston made her New York City Opera debut in "The Crucible" in 1961.

WELCOME PAGE MONTHLY MEETINGS MEMBERSHIP JACOPO PERI AWARD ANNOUCEMENTS & ACTIVITIES OPERA LINKS

Contact The New England Opera Clubat:operainfo@neoperaclub.org
Return to Top
Rev.123004

DATE	NAME	COMMENT

2008	Janis Mancini del Sesto	Fifteen Years of Successful Opera as General Manager of the Boston Lyric Opera Company
2007	Randolp J. Fuller	A generous opera patron and scholar who founded the OPERA BOSTON company
2006	Stephen Lord	A nationally renown opera conductor, Maestro Lord was Music Director of the Boston Lyric Opera for many years.
2005	Jeffrey Rink	This talented symphonic conductor is acclaimed for his inovated productions of concert operas.
2004	Sarah Caldwell	Music's Wonder Woman, she founded and was Artistic Director of the Opera Company of Boston
2003	Sharon Daniels	Opera diva and director, she is now Director of the Opera Institue at Boston University.
2002	Bradley Pennington	Founder and Artistic Director of the Boston Bel Canto Opera Company.
2001	Roland Hayes	A posthumous award to the first African American male to win universal acclaim as a concert artist.
2000	Jan Curtis	A promising contralto, who is making an extraordinary and successful effort to overcome an unfortunate handicap.
1999	D'Anna Fortunato	This charming mezzo-soprano has delighted audiences with her many appearances in operas and recitals.
1998	Norman Kelley	In roles from Wagner to Kurka, he was a tenor often featured by both the Metroplitan Opera and New York City opera companies.
1997	William Miranda	A knowledgeable and innovative opera teacher, he founded and is president emeritus of the New England Opera Club.
1996	Scott Brumit	Founder and General Manager of the Longwood Opera Company, he often participates in their productions.
1995	Robert Honeysucker	His beautiful baritone voice has enhanced many opera productions in the Boston area and around the country.
1994	Susan Stone	She created the "Brown Bag Opera",--an inovative program to introduce opera to children.
1993	Richard Conrad	The founder, artistic director and featured vocalist at the Boston Academy of Music.
1992	John Balme	A past music director and conductor of the Boston Lyric Opera Company.
1991	Patricia Craig	Her performing career spans more than three decades of major roles in the leading opera houses of the world. She made her Metropolitan Opera debut in 1978.
1991	Richard Cassilly	The husband of soprano Patricia Craig, he was a world-famous Wagnerian tenor and voice teacher.
1990	Ron Della Chiesa	He is a knowlegable radio host for all styles of music and the voice of the Boston Symphony Orchestra broadcasts.
1989	Ernest Triplett	He founded and performed in the Associated Artist Opera group, a predecessor to the Boston Lyric Opera Company.
1988	John Moriarty	Legendary director of the New England Conservatory opera program, he is revered by generations of aspiring singers.
1987	Eleanor Steber	Winning the 1940 Met Auditions award, she had a long and distinguished career.
1986	Donald Gramm	A bass-baritone who appeared in many productions of both the New York City and the Boston Opera Companies.
1985	Phyllis Curtin	This celebrated soprano of the New York City Opera was the dean of the Boston University opera department.
1984	Boris Goldovsky	A pianist and opera producer, he enhaced for many years the intermission features of the Metropolitan Opera broadcasts.
1983	Schuyler Chapin	An entrepeneur in the music industry, he was General Manager of the Metropolitan Opera from 1971 to 1975.
1982	Eunice Alberts	This famous contralto from Boston made her New York City Opera debut in "The Crucible" in 1961.