Head Of Fort Worth Opera Resigns

ArtandSeek.net January 26, 2020 38

Tuomas Hiltunen, General Director of Fort Worth Opera, has resigned from his position.

The departure is due to “different visions of the direction and goals of the company,” Hiltunen said in a brief e-mail to KERA.

“I have no further comment at this time,” he added.

Tuomas Hiltunen

Hiltunen joined the company in July 2017 and supervised two seasons. The 2020 season begins in April, and features productions of “La Boheme,” “Zorro,” and “Revenge of the Bat (Die Fliedermaus).”

“Fort Worth Opera is grateful for Tuomas’ leadership over the past two seasons and we wish him well in his future endeavors,” said Nelson E. Claytor, Ph.D., Chair of the Board of Trustees, in a news release. “As we move forward, our top priority is, and always has been, ensuring that the financial health of the company is secure for decades to come.”

Hiltunen replaced Darren K. Woods, who was dismissed in February 2017.

Here’s the release from Fort Worth Opera:

TUOMAS HILTUNEN STEPS DOWN AS FORT WORTH OPERA’S GENERAL DIRECTOR

FORT WORTH, TX — Fort Worth Opera’s Board of Trustees announced today that they have accepted the submitted resignation of General Director Tuomas Hiltunen. Mr. Hiltunen joined Fort Worth Opera in July of 2017. During his tenure, he established security and growth by streamlining expenditures, reducing administrative costs and overhead, and maintaining a balanced operating budget.

“Fort Worth Opera is grateful for Tuomas’ leadership over the past two seasons and we wish him well in his future endeavors,” said Nelson E. Claytor, Ph.D., Chair of the Board of Trustees. “As we move forward, our top priority is, and always has been, ensuring that the financial health of the company is secure for decades to come.”

Building upon his prior experience in the world of theater, Mr. Hiltunen was instrumental in establishing Fort Worth Opera’s Relaxed Performances program, which created a welcoming opera environment for audience members with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and learning disabilities. Presented in tandem with Fort Worth Opera’s Children’s Opera Theatre program, these modified performances offered a friendly, calming, and supportive environment for children with sensory differences to enjoy opera with their families. The company will continue to work with the Fort Worth ISD and local organizations throughout Tarrant County as this inspiring program evolves.

Preparations for Fort Worth Opera’s thrilling 2020 Festival (April 17 – May 3) are well underway. This season features star-studded performances of Puccini’s romantic masterpiece La Bohème, a riotous Roaring Twenties comedy, Revenge of the Bat (Die Fledermaus), and the world premiere of swashbuckling adventure Zorro. The company is eager to announce the 2021 line-up for its exhilarating 75th anniversary season in the months ahead. Fort Worth Opera looks towards a bright future as it proudly forges ahead as the oldest continually operating opera company in the state of Texas.

Until a successor is appointed, Nelson E. Claytor, Ph.D., has assumed the role and duties of Acting General Director. www.fwopera.org.