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HistoryThere was a special house at 404 North Duke in Lancaster. People who passed the house never realized that it had a magic door. Only the ones that were fortunate enough to go through the door knew that once the door was open and you went in, you were never the same when you came out. In the house lived a couple who not only loved music, but loved people. They knew how to build your confidence in your abilities. They had a dream, and they had tremendous faith and courage in that dream. That is how the Lancaster Opera Workshop was born. – segment from "Grand Opera in Grand Style" Lancaster boasts one of the very few non-profit, all-volunteer opera companies in America. OperaLancaster maintains an active performing membership of over 100, plus a large group of production and administration volunteers. In the late 1940's, Frederick and Dorothy Robinson, a husband and wife team of voice teachers moved their studios from Philadelphia to Lancaster in order to accommodate their many area students. Realizing the need for a performing outlet for these students, other than church choirs, they conceived the idea of an opera workshop. This dream was brought to fruition in 1951 when a small group of students met to create an opera workshop whose goal was to perform scenes from grand opera and one-act operas in English, rehearsing in the Robinson's basement and presenting their work in a local high school. In May of 1952 the first "informal evening of opera" was presented and well received. Accompanied only by piano, the performance of one-act operas continued until 1957, when a decision was made to try a full three-act opera, La Boheme. Around this time, a committee of representatives from local theatrical producing groups was formed to investigate the possibility of live theatre at the Fulton, then a failing movie theatre. In 1960, with the cooperation of the Fulton owners, the Lancaster Theatre Arts Association and the Lancaster Opera Workshop collaborated on a production of Madame Butterfly for the Fulton. Accompanied for the first time by a full orchestra, this hit set the pattern for LOW's future, as well as contributing to a growing community interest in preserving the Fulton as a live theatre and an historical treasure. As surrounding cities had no opera, LOW attracted singers from neighboring communities who became dues-paying members. Two LOC members, John Darrenkamp and Robert Brubaker, continued on to sing starring roles at the Metropolitan Opera House. In 1965 LOW purchased a vacant firehouse on West King St. as its home, which provided space for rehearsal, set building, and costume storage. The Company was renamed The Lancaster Opera Company in 1988. LOC celebrated it's 50th Anniversary in February of 2002 when Representative Sturla read a declaration from the House of Representatives commemorating the 50th Anniversary and Lancaster Mayor Smithgall declared February 22, 2002 as Lancaster Opera Company Day. At a sold out, black tie event, the LOC Gala Committee declarations and best wishes from The White House and President and Mrs. George W. Bush were also on display. In 2005 the Lancaster Opera Company reorganized and recommitted to its original premise of producing opera with the best available local talent. Now known as OperaLancaster, the company continues to present Lancaster and the surrounding communities with some of the finest vocal talent the area has to offer. Grand Opera in Grand StyleOperaLancaster Celebrates 50 Yearsby Kim Wittel Fifty years after the first production of the Lancaster Opera Workshop in 1952, Lancaster is still watching as OperaLancaster continues to delight critics and audiences alike with its professional quality productions, mounted by one of the oldest and most unique amateur opera companies in the country. This very special volume, chronicling its entire first fifty-year history includes:
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