Michigan Opera Theatre Founder And Artistic Director David DiChiera On His Storied Career
Local legend David DiChiera talks about founding the Opera in Detroit, and retirement.
This weekend the Michigan Opera Theatre kicks off its 2016-2017 season with the iconic opera Carmen.
This season also represents the end of an era for the opera in Detroit.
Founder and Artistic Director David DiChiera is retiring.
A break from work on a long and storied career is well deserved. DiChiera created the state’s professional opera company in 1971. He says he came to Detroit and thought it was a shame that a major metropolitan area didn’t have a professional opera.
“Well, I thought ‘that’s not alright,'” says DiChiera, who then opened the Opera House in Detroit. “It’s now become one of the major opera companies, and I’m very proud of that.”
Before founding the Michigan Opera Theatre, DiChiera was a concert pianist and a composer who was drawn for writing music for the voice.
“Composing for me as always been a necessity… it comes so hard, and yet you can’t stay away from it.”
DiChiera says he’s writing a book about his career, which he looks forward to working on in retirement.
To hear more of this conversation on Detroit Today, click on the audio player above.
