John Balme
Encyclopedia
John Balme is an American conductor, opera manager and pianist. He served as General Director of Boston Lyric Opera
from 1979 to 1989 and the Lake George Opera Festival from 1988 to 1992. he was also Music Director of the Liederkranz Foundation of the City of New York
with a 15-year tenure from 1984 to 1998. He has participated as conductor, assistant conductor, and/or producer in over 300 productions and has appeared as a guest conductor throughout the United States. He is best known for producing and conducting of the complete Ring Cycle of Richard Wagner for the Boston Lyric Opera in Boston and New York City in 1982 and 1983.
His extensive performance history includes works by Mozart, Wagner, Strauss, Puccini, and Verdi, as well as operas such as Dialogues of the Carmelites, Der Zigeunerbaron, Der Freischütz, The Rake's Progress, and Die Tote Stadt.
As a pianist, Balme has accompanied many singers, including recital performances with singers such as Carlo Bergonzi
, Nicholai Gedda, Jerome Hines
, and Deborah Voigt
. He has also served as production accompanist for singers such as Beverly Sills
, Shirley Verrett
, and John Vickers
.
He has conducted at opera companies throughout the US and the world, including Hawaii Opera Theatre
, San Diego Opera
, Welsh National Opera
, Chautauqua Opera
, Fort Worth Opera
, Augusta Opera, Shreveport Opera
, and Opera Theatre of Rochester. He was the manager of opera in New England from 1977–78 and production coordinator for the San Diego Opera
from 1978-79.
John Balme collaborated with Scott Brummit founded Longwood Opera in 1986 to give locally-based performers a chance to establish themselves as professional artists. He was the director at Longwood Opera from 1986-92.
, the Eastman School of Music
, and Indiana University
. Balme has served on the faculties of the University of Texas at Austin
, the University of Connecticut
, New England Conservatory of Music and Northeastern University.
He is married to operatic soprano Cynthia Springsteen, who also worked for the Children's Opera Chorus and had vocal training from Armen Boyajian. John Balme is the Director of Music Ministry for St. Michael's Roman Catholic Church in Long Branch's West End, NJ, is Director of Concordia Chorale a chamber choir with performances around the world , and maintains a teaching studio for piano, violin, viola, and other instruments in Belford, NJ.
Boston Lyric Opera
Boston Lyric Opera is an American opera company based in Boston, Massachusetts, founded in 1976.Each season, BLO produces three mainstage productions at the Citi Performing Arts Center Shubert Theatre in Boston and a fully staged, one-hour English language version of a popular opera for school...
from 1979 to 1989 and the Lake George Opera Festival from 1988 to 1992. he was also Music Director of the Liederkranz Foundation of the City of New York
Liederkranz of the City of New York
The Liederkranz of New York City is an organization devoted to cultural and social exchange as well as the sponsorship of musical events. Its activities are dedicated to the support, development and preservation of culture in New York City...
with a 15-year tenure from 1984 to 1998. He has participated as conductor, assistant conductor, and/or producer in over 300 productions and has appeared as a guest conductor throughout the United States. He is best known for producing and conducting of the complete Ring Cycle of Richard Wagner for the Boston Lyric Opera in Boston and New York City in 1982 and 1983.
His extensive performance history includes works by Mozart, Wagner, Strauss, Puccini, and Verdi, as well as operas such as Dialogues of the Carmelites, Der Zigeunerbaron, Der Freischütz, The Rake's Progress, and Die Tote Stadt.
As a pianist, Balme has accompanied many singers, including recital performances with singers such as Carlo Bergonzi
Carlo Bergonzi
Carlo Bergonzi is an Italian operatic tenor. Although he performed and recorded some bel canto and verismo roles, he is above all associated with the operas of Giuseppe Verdi, including a large number of the composer's lesser-known works that he helped revive...
, Nicholai Gedda, Jerome Hines
Jerome Hines
The American Jerome A. Hines was a basso opera singer who performed at the Metropolitan Opera from 1946 to 1987...
, and Deborah Voigt
Deborah Voigt
Deborah Voigt is an American operatic soprano. Voigt regularly performs in opera houses and concert halls worldwide.- Early life and education :...
. He has also served as production accompanist for singers such as Beverly Sills
Beverly Sills
Beverly Sills was an American operatic soprano whose peak career was between the 1950s and 1970s. In her prime she was the only real rival to Joan Sutherland as the leading bel canto stylist...
, Shirley Verrett
Shirley Verrett
Shirley Verrett was an African-American operatic mezzo-soprano who successfully transitioned into soprano roles i.e. soprano sfogato...
, and John Vickers
John Vickers
Sir John Vickers is a British economist, and Warden of All Souls College, Oxford.-Education:Sir John was educated at Eastbourne Grammar School and Oriel College, Oxford, culminating in his graduating with a DPhil from Oxford.-Career:...
.
He has conducted at opera companies throughout the US and the world, including Hawaii Opera Theatre
Hawaii Opera Theatre
The Hawaii Opera Theatre is an opera company located in Honolulu, Hawaii, which became active in 1961. The company typically performs three operas during February and March in Blaisdell Concert Hall...
, San Diego Opera
San Diego Opera
The San Diego Opera Association is a professional opera company located in the city of San Diego, California and is a member of OPERA America. It was founded in 1950 to present productions by San Francisco Opera in the San Diego area...
, Welsh National Opera
Welsh National Opera
Welsh National Opera is an opera company founded in Cardiff, Wales in 1943. The WNO tours Wales, the United Kingdom and the rest of the world extensively. Annually, it gives more than 120 performances of eight main stage operas to a combined audience of around 150,000 people...
, Chautauqua Opera
Chautauqua Opera
The Chautauqua Opera is the resident summer opera company of the Chautauqua Institution. It is the oldest continuously active summer opera company in the U.S, having been founded in 1929, and it has produced several operas during the Institution's nine-week summer season every year since...
, Fort Worth Opera
Fort Worth Opera
According to the company, Fort Worth Opera is the oldest, continually performing opera company in the state of Texas and among the oldest in the United States. While originally presenting operas one at a time over a fall/winter season, it changed to a "festival" format in 2007...
, Augusta Opera, Shreveport Opera
Shreveport Opera
-External links:*...
, and Opera Theatre of Rochester. He was the manager of opera in New England from 1977–78 and production coordinator for the San Diego Opera
San Diego Opera
The San Diego Opera Association is a professional opera company located in the city of San Diego, California and is a member of OPERA America. It was founded in 1950 to present productions by San Francisco Opera in the San Diego area...
from 1978-79.
John Balme collaborated with Scott Brummit founded Longwood Opera in 1986 to give locally-based performers a chance to establish themselves as professional artists. He was the director at Longwood Opera from 1986-92.
Background
John Balme is the son of David Mowbray Balme, the original principal and helped establish the University of Ghana. He attended Oxford University, the Royal College of MusicRoyal College of Music
The Royal College of Music is a conservatoire founded by Royal Charter in 1882, located in South Kensington, London, England.-Background:The first director was Sir George Grove and he was followed by Sir Hubert Parry...
, the Eastman School of Music
Eastman School of Music
The Eastman School of Music is a music conservatory located in Rochester, New York. The Eastman School is a professional school within the University of Rochester...
, and Indiana University
Indiana University
Indiana University is a multi-campus public university system in the state of Indiana, United States. Indiana University has a combined student body of more than 100,000 students, including approximately 42,000 students enrolled at the Indiana University Bloomington campus and approximately 37,000...
. Balme has served on the faculties of the University of Texas at Austin
University of Texas at Austin
The University of Texas at Austin is a state research university located in Austin, Texas, USA, and is the flagship institution of the The University of Texas System. Founded in 1883, its campus is located approximately from the Texas State Capitol in Austin...
, the University of Connecticut
University of Connecticut
The admission rate to the University of Connecticut is about 50% and has been steadily decreasing, with about 28,000 prospective students applying for admission to the freshman class in recent years. Approximately 40,000 prospective students tour the main campus in Storrs annually...
, New England Conservatory of Music and Northeastern University.
He is married to operatic soprano Cynthia Springsteen, who also worked for the Children's Opera Chorus and had vocal training from Armen Boyajian. John Balme is the Director of Music Ministry for St. Michael's Roman Catholic Church in Long Branch's West End, NJ, is Director of Concordia Chorale a chamber choir with performances around the world , and maintains a teaching studio for piano, violin, viola, and other instruments in Belford, NJ.