AZ Opera’s Head of Music, Director to Serve with Glimmerglass Festival

The Glimmerglass Festival, one of America’s most prestigious opera festivals, has appointed Allen Perriello as the director of their Young Artists Program, beginning in summer 2017. The festival is held in Cooperstown, NY, a village on Otsego Lake referred to as “Glimmerglass” in James Fenimore Cooper’s The Leatherstocking Tales.

Perriello will remain as Arizona Opera’s head of music and director of the Marion Roose Pullin Opera Studio, a post he has held since 2012.

Under Perriello’s direction, the Marion Roose Pullin Opera Studio has grown to six annual resident artists who train at Arizona Opera throughout the season. Perriello works with these artists, preparing them for roles on Arizona Opera’s mainstage, public appearances around the state and careers beyond their time in Arizona.

Beginning next summer, Perriello will oversee Glimmerglass Festival’s Young Artists Program, which comprises 45 singers, three pianists, two conductors and four stage directors. Several notable artists have participated in both Arizona Opera and Glimmerglass programs, including former studio artists Chris Carr, Calvin Griffin, Beth Lytwynec and Andrew Penning and incoming studio artist Zachary Owen.

Perriello is entering his fifth season at Arizona Opera as head of music and director of the Marion Roose Pullin Opera Studio. He oversees the musical preparation of all mainstage productions, as well as the selection and training of the studio artists. He recently completed his sixth season with Des Moines Metro Opera as a pianist/coach for mainstage productions the the apprentice artist program.

PHOTO COURTESY ARIZONA OPERA