Kentucky Opera names new general director
Kentucky Opera named current Dallas Opera artistic administrator Ian Derrer as the company’s next general director on Monday, nearly a year after the sudden death of its previous leader David Roth.
Derrer, 41, has also worked with Lyric Opera of Chicago, New York City Opera and Santa Fe Opera and began performing in the children’s chorus of the Charlotte Opera, now Opera Carolina. He starts with Kentucky Opera on Sept. 1 to become the fifth general director in the company’s 65-year history and will manage the company’s $2.25 million budget.
“He's got opera in his bones and has been with some of the finest opera companies in the country,” said Kentucky Opera’s board of directors’ president William A. Blodgett, Jr.
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Keith Cerny, general director and CEO of Dallas Opera, lauded Derrer's work during his two years at that opera company.
“Ian guided important artistic and patron relationships, in addition to serving as advisor to both the music director and me,” Cerny said.
Blodgett declined to give Derrer’s salary, saying it is “commensurate with his talent and our community.”
Derrer said in a phone interview that Kentucky Opera board members’ deep knowledge of the company and the regional arts scene attracted him to the company’s top position..
“I like the present form of the company’s season with three productions and two performances each. But I think we can find ways to have a wider presence in the community that goes beyond full productions. That would include concerts and masterclasses for the young artists program that is growing,” he said.
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He said he envisions the opera continuing productions of popular operas for its main stage series at the Brown Theater, but also including newer works in the season and including them in the form of workshops.
Derrer also emphasized his intent to build collaborations with other arts organizations into Kentucky Opera’s season.
“There is so much in the community already geared towards trying new things in the arts - that includes what the Louisville Orchestra has been doing under the artistic leadership of Teddy Abrams as well as the activities the Speed Art Museum and Louisville Ballet are doing,” he said. “It’s a rich, cultural, collaborative city.”
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Derrer talked at length about the company bringing more educational opportunities to the public and become a stronger place for young artists to launch their careers, citing the opera’s potential role in providing more prospects for students of regional vocal programs, including those at Indiana University and College-Conservatory of Music at University of Cincinnati.
Blodgett said Derrer has already spoken with several Louisville arts leaders. He added that during the general director search, Derrer came highly recommended by several people in the industry.
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Derrer will be in Louisville Aug. 4-6 for the company’s celebrations of its 65th anniversary, which the opera plans to announce later.
Derrer succeeds Roth, who was the company’s general director from 2006 until July, 2015, and whom Derrer had worked with in his early career at Baltimore Opera.
Reach reporter Elizabeth Kramer at (502) 582-4682 and ekramer@courier-journal.com. Follow her on Twitter @arts_bureau and on Facebook at Elizabeth Kramer - Arts Writer.