Yuval Sharon to step down as artistic director of the Industry opera company

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As a devoted cinema enthusiast with a penchant for exploring the unconventional corners of the art world, I can’t help but feel a profound sense of nostalgia as I bid farewell to Yuval Sharon, the visionary behind The Industry, an opera company that has truly revolutionized the landscape of L.A.’s cultural scene.

At the close of a significant period, it was revealed on Thursday that Yuval Sharon would be leaving his position as the creative leader of the innovative Los Angeles opera company.

Starting summer 2023, Tim Griffin, our current executive director, is set to assume an expanded role, taking on both executive and artistic directorship within the company. Previously, Ash Fure and Malik Gaines, who became co-artistic directors in a partnership with Sharon in 2021, are now forming an artistic advisory council. Their mission will be to foster conversations about opera among various art forms, as well as aid Griffin in selecting future artists for residency within our organization.

Due to recent news from the Metropolitan Opera, Sharon will have to devote additional time to New York City as they’ve chosen him to direct their upcoming “Ring” cycle starting in 2028. Next season, he is expected to make his first appearance with the company through a new production of “Tristan und Isolde.

2012 marked a significant turning point for me as a cinephile, when I embarked on an extraordinary journey with the unconventional new opera “Crescent City” by Anne LeBaron. This groundbreaking project was the brainchild of The Industry, a visionary new enterprise I founded, which made its debut at an avant-garde art space in Atwater Village. Upon the opera’s premiere, Mark Swed from the Los Angeles Times wrote: “Anne LeBaron’s opera is the inaugural project of my ambitious and potentially groundbreaking venture, The Industry, a young director with roots in L.A.’s diverse and distinctive artistic community.

The prescient headline to that review? “Industry’s remarkable ‘Crescent City’ reshapes L.A. opera.”

In the ensuing years, the Industry significantly revamped and revolutionized the city’s opera landscape. Sharon ascended as a prominent figure among a group of artists dedicated to challenging the traditional norms of this art form – making it less polished and exclusive, and more adaptable to the evolving 21st-century environment. Sharon also aimed to extend opera’s reach, attracting younger, diverse audiences and creating more chances for female artists and performers of color. Along the way, he earned a MacArthur genius grant and authored the book “A New Vision for Opera,” outlining a flourishing future for this evolving genre.

One of Sharon’s most striking and thought-provoking achievements was his 2015 opera titled “Hopscotch,” which unfolded across 24 vehicles traversing the streets of Los Angeles. Coordinating this event was a daunting task, but when skeptics doubted its feasibility, Sharon would respond with a simple question: “Why not?

2020’s “Sweet Land,” performed at Angeles State Historic Park, delved much deeper than the fast-paced era of social media. It tackled complex themes such as immigration, displacement, and the genocidal foundation of America’s history. The production received exceptional praise before it had to prematurely close due to COVID-19 causing darkened stages nationwide.

In that very year, Sharon broadened his influence by taking up the role of artistic director at Detroit Opera. He soon created a stir with an innovative drive-through performance of Wagner’s “Götterdämmerung” in a parking garage. His tenure with the company has now been extended to run through 2028. It is worth noting that Sharon has previously collaborated with Berlin State Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago, and Santa Fe Opera as well.

Fans in the industry may be questioning if “The Comet/Poppea,” which Sharon directed last summer for the company, was his final production. The announcement on Thursday revealed that Sharon is moving into a founder role, implying he will still be involved by attending future performances and brainstorming exclusive projects tailored to The Industry’s distinctive identity.

On January 30th, we’ll commemorate the past and future of our company together with Sharon, in the heart of downtown at the Bradbury Building. It’s going to be a Decade Party! To secure your spot, visit our website: theindustryla.org.

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2024-12-06 02:43