To my dismay, I learned that my manager at the time did a lousy job and, while I do have a valid right of first refusal, it was written poorly. Confused, I looked up the original contract and the right attached to it. Upon me reminding them of my right of first refusal, I was told that the company believed they did not have the obligation to engage me.

This made sense, given I have a right of first refusal to direct it (standard in the case of new productions and very much how the business operates)įast forward to January this year, when I get a call from one of Lyric’s top tier managers who informed me that Lyric was going to open the season with my production of Ernani but that they were going to go with another director, even while using the previous physical production as I created it. Right before COVID hit us, it was supposed to be presented by the San Francisco Opera (with me directing, of course).

The final show was beautiful and well received. As the director, it was my job to come up with the concept, work with my designers, make decisions about every aspect of its presentation (from sets to costumes, props and lights) and, ultimately, be responsible for the overall artistic product. The gist is: in back in 2009, Lyric Opera of Chicago honored me with the offer to create a brand new production of Verdi’s Ernani. I was not planning to post about this but I feel I have no option now, given people have asked me about it, are wondering or even making up reasons or explanations.

There has been no response from the Lyric. The stagebdirector Jose Maria Condemi, who is running the San Francisco Opera Centennial Season Gala this weekend, has accused the Lyric Opera of dumping him for a female director and then proceeding regardless with his production for Verdi’s Ernani.

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