Joseph Volpe (opera)
Encyclopedia
Joseph Volpe was General Manager of the Metropolitan Opera
from 1990 to 2006. In all, he spent 42 years working at the Met in various capacities, rising rapidly to managerial positions.
, New York and opened his own auto mechanic business in high school. After a fire at the auto garage, he worked as a theatrical carpenter on Broadway
. In lieu of college, Volpe joined the Metropolitan Opera in August 1964 as an apprentice carpenter.
Volpe became the opera's General Manager in August 1990. He was the first head of the Metropolitan Opera to advance from within the ranks of the company's management.
's The First Emperor
, presented in the 2006-2007 season. The Met's repertory further expanded with 22 works given their Met premieres during Volpe's 16 seasons as general manager — more new works than under any general manager since Giulio Gatti-Casazza
, who ran the company from 1908 to 1935.
Volpe expanded the Met's international touring activities. The company visited Spain's Expo ’92, Germany in 1994, and Japan in 1993, 1997, 2001, and 2006. In addition, under Volpe, frequent tours and recordings of symphonic repertoire by the Met orchestra were inaugurated, as well as an annual series at Carnegie Hall
. The orchestra made European concert tours in 1996 and 1999, and a tour of the United States in 1998. In August 2002, the orchestra gave concerts at the Salzburg Festival
, festivals in Lucerne and Baden-Baden and the Rheingau Musik Festival
.
In 1994, Volpe terminated the contract of star soprano Kathleen Battle
, due to repeated disruptive behavior. All future engagements with Battle were canceled as well.
Volpe named Valery Gergiev
as the Met's Principal Guest Conductor in 1997.
In 1998, Volpe instituted an education project for young children in cooperation with the City of New York Department of Education and endowed by the Texaco Foundation. The program emphasizes direct experience with music and opera for students in New York City schools. The children come to the Metropolitan Opera House for backstage tours, followed by attendance at dress rehearsals, and artists from the Metropolitan Opera are frequently sent to participating schools for educational presentations. Volpe also established a partnership with the University of Connecticut
that provides students from the music and drama departments with behind-the-scenes access to the creative processes taking place in the opera house. The Met outreach under Volpe also included the "Cultural Passport" program with the City University of New York
(CUNY), offering a special program for honors students and teachers-in-training to familiarize them with opera.
. This system provides individual title screens on the backs of the seats for those members of the audience who wish to utilize them, but with little distraction for those who do not.
In 1998, Volpe initiated the development of a new management software program, called Tessitura
. Tessitura uses a single database of information to record, track and manage all contacts with the Met's constituents, conduct targeted marketing and fund raising appeals, handle all ticketing and membership transactions, and provide detailed and flexible performance reports. Beginning in 2000, Tessitura was offered under license to other arts organizations, and it is now used by a network of more than 200 opera companies, symphony orchestras, ballet companies, theater companies, performing arts centers, and museums in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, and Ireland.
Volpe strengthened the Met's administration through a re-organization, naming assistant managers responsible to the general manager for specific areas of operations. Labor relations under Volpe's management were without significant contract disputes for over two decades, the longest period of labor peace in the company's history. In fact, Volpe's successor Peter Gelb hired him in February 2010 to represent the Met in its various negotiations with labor unions.
Volpe successfully opposed major aspects of Lincoln Center's 21st-century redevelopment plans: a proposal to build a glass dome over the entire plaza and plans to construct a new theater for the New York City Opera in Damrosch Park. In Volpe's view, Lincoln Center needed refurbishing, but not a drastic redesign costing hundreds of millions of dollars.
Although the Met suffered the ill effects experienced by most arts organizations in New York City of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, sound fiscal management, including marketing initiatives and continued strong fundraising, permitted the Met to maintain its high musical and production standards. To ensure affordable access to Met performances for a broad range customers, Volpe maintained a wide variety of ticket prices and subscription packages.
became his successor as general manager.
and the University of Pennsylvania
's Wharton School of Business, as well as at the "Models of Leadership" course for New York University
's Stern School of Business, where he teaches a course entitled "Managing in the Performing Arts."
After leaving the Met, Volpe joined Giuliani Partners
, the firm founded by the former New York City mayor after he left office, as a senior vice president. His job was to bring in cultural clients, manage noncultural projects, and draw on the many contacts he made through opera. However, Volpe was not happy there and left in January 2007. As of 2008, he works at Theater Projects Consultants, a leading theater design firm, at its American headquarters, in South Norwalk, Connecticut. (NYTimes, 3/25/08)
Metropolitan Opera
The Metropolitan Opera is an opera company, located in New York City. Originally founded in 1880, the company gave its first performance on October 22, 1883. The company is operated by the non-profit Metropolitan Opera Association, with Peter Gelb as general manager...
from 1990 to 2006. In all, he spent 42 years working at the Met in various capacities, rising rapidly to managerial positions.
Early life
Joseph Volpe grew up in Long IslandLong Island
Long Island is an island located in the southeast part of the U.S. state of New York, just east of Manhattan. Stretching northeast into the Atlantic Ocean, Long Island contains four counties, two of which are boroughs of New York City , and two of which are mainly suburban...
, New York and opened his own auto mechanic business in high school. After a fire at the auto garage, he worked as a theatrical carpenter on Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
. In lieu of college, Volpe joined the Metropolitan Opera in August 1964 as an apprentice carpenter.
Rise from carpenter
Volpe became the Metropolitan Opera's master carpenter in 1966, having joined the company's carpentry division in 1964 as an apprentice. He became Technical Director of the Met in 1978. In 1981 he was appointed Assistant Manager of the Met, and retained that position for 10 years. His accomplishments in that capacity included managing the company's re-entry into the commercial recording field.Volpe became the opera's General Manager in August 1990. He was the first head of the Metropolitan Opera to advance from within the ranks of the company's management.
Artistic management
As general manager, Volpe reduced the number of operas repeating from prior seasons and increased the overall length of the season. During his tenure, several world premieres were given, including commissions made under his aegis, such as Tan DunTan Dun
Tan Dun is a Chinese contemporary classical composer, most widely known for his scores for the movies Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and Hero.-Early life in China:...
's The First Emperor
The First Emperor
The First Emperor is an opera in two acts with a libretto written in English by Tan Dun and Ha Jin, and music by Tan Dun. The opera received its premiere at the Metropolitan Opera at the Lincoln Center in New York City on 21 December 2006, conducted by the composer and with Plácido Domingo in the...
, presented in the 2006-2007 season. The Met's repertory further expanded with 22 works given their Met premieres during Volpe's 16 seasons as general manager — more new works than under any general manager since Giulio Gatti-Casazza
Giulio Gatti-Casazza
Giulio Gatti-Casazza was an Italian opera manager. He was general manager of La Scala in Milan, Italy and later the Metropolitan Opera in New York City.-Life and career:...
, who ran the company from 1908 to 1935.
Volpe expanded the Met's international touring activities. The company visited Spain's Expo ’92, Germany in 1994, and Japan in 1993, 1997, 2001, and 2006. In addition, under Volpe, frequent tours and recordings of symphonic repertoire by the Met orchestra were inaugurated, as well as an annual series at Carnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall is a concert venue in Midtown Manhattan in New York City, United States, located at 881 Seventh Avenue, occupying the east stretch of Seventh Avenue between West 56th Street and West 57th Street, two blocks south of Central Park....
. The orchestra made European concert tours in 1996 and 1999, and a tour of the United States in 1998. In August 2002, the orchestra gave concerts at the Salzburg Festival
Salzburg Festival
The Salzburg Festival is a prominent festival of music and drama established in 1920. It is held each summer within the Austrian town of Salzburg, the birthplace of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart...
, festivals in Lucerne and Baden-Baden and the Rheingau Musik Festival
Rheingau Musik Festival
The Rheingau Musik Festival is an international summer music festival in Germany, founded in 1987. It is mostly for classical music, but includes other genres...
.
In 1994, Volpe terminated the contract of star soprano Kathleen Battle
Kathleen Battle
Kathleen Battle , is an African-American operatic soprano known for her agile and light voice and her silvery, pure tone. Battle initially became known for her work within the concert repertoire through performances with major orchestras during the early and mid 1970s. She made her opera debut in...
, due to repeated disruptive behavior. All future engagements with Battle were canceled as well.
Volpe named Valery Gergiev
Valery Gergiev
Valery Abisalovich Gergiev is a Russian conductor and opera company director. He is general director and artistic director of the Mariinsky Theatre, principal conductor of the London Symphony Orchestra, and artistic director of the White Nights Festival in St. Petersburg.- Early life :Gergiev,...
as the Met's Principal Guest Conductor in 1997.
In 1998, Volpe instituted an education project for young children in cooperation with the City of New York Department of Education and endowed by the Texaco Foundation. The program emphasizes direct experience with music and opera for students in New York City schools. The children come to the Metropolitan Opera House for backstage tours, followed by attendance at dress rehearsals, and artists from the Metropolitan Opera are frequently sent to participating schools for educational presentations. Volpe also established a partnership with 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...
that provides students from the music and drama departments with behind-the-scenes access to the creative processes taking place in the opera house. The Met outreach under Volpe also included the "Cultural Passport" program with the City University of New York
City University of New York
The City University of New York is the public university system of New York City, with its administrative offices in Yorkville in Manhattan. It is the largest urban university in the United States, consisting of 23 institutions: 11 senior colleges, six community colleges, the William E...
(CUNY), offering a special program for honors students and teachers-in-training to familiarize them with opera.
Technical innovations
Volpe conceived and developed "Met Titles," which were introduced during the 1995–96 season opening night performance of OtelloOtello
Otello is an opera in four acts by Giuseppe Verdi to an Italian libretto by Arrigo Boito, based on Shakespeare's play Othello. It was Verdi's penultimate opera, and was first performed at the Teatro alla Scala, Milan, on February 5, 1887....
. This system provides individual title screens on the backs of the seats for those members of the audience who wish to utilize them, but with little distraction for those who do not.
In 1998, Volpe initiated the development of a new management software program, called Tessitura
Tessitura software
Tessitura is an enterprise application used by performing arts and cultural organisations to manage their activities in ticketing, fundraising, customer relationship management, and marketing...
. Tessitura uses a single database of information to record, track and manage all contacts with the Met's constituents, conduct targeted marketing and fund raising appeals, handle all ticketing and membership transactions, and provide detailed and flexible performance reports. Beginning in 2000, Tessitura was offered under license to other arts organizations, and it is now used by a network of more than 200 opera companies, symphony orchestras, ballet companies, theater companies, performing arts centers, and museums in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, and Ireland.
Fiscal management and marketing
Sound fiscal management and various marketing initiatives, permitting the Met to maintain high musical and production standards, characterized Volpe’s tenure. In addition, Volpe’s customer care initiative, begun in 1996, steadily improved the Met’s responsiveness to its customers’ needs. Volpe inaugurated consumer-friendly services like automated ticket sales, varied subscription packages, and a more liberal ticket exchange policy.Volpe strengthened the Met's administration through a re-organization, naming assistant managers responsible to the general manager for specific areas of operations. Labor relations under Volpe's management were without significant contract disputes for over two decades, the longest period of labor peace in the company's history. In fact, Volpe's successor Peter Gelb hired him in February 2010 to represent the Met in its various negotiations with labor unions.
Volpe successfully opposed major aspects of Lincoln Center's 21st-century redevelopment plans: a proposal to build a glass dome over the entire plaza and plans to construct a new theater for the New York City Opera in Damrosch Park. In Volpe's view, Lincoln Center needed refurbishing, but not a drastic redesign costing hundreds of millions of dollars.
Although the Met suffered the ill effects experienced by most arts organizations in New York City of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, sound fiscal management, including marketing initiatives and continued strong fundraising, permitted the Met to maintain its high musical and production standards. To ensure affordable access to Met performances for a broad range customers, Volpe maintained a wide variety of ticket prices and subscription packages.
Retirement
In February 2004, Volpe announced his intention to retire, citing a desire to spend time on the personal interests which he had neglected while at his "all-consuming" position at the Met. On August 1, 2006, Peter GelbPeter Gelb
Peter Gelb is an American arts administrator. He is currently General Manager of the Metropolitan Opera in New York City.-Early life:...
became his successor as general manager.
Career outside the Met
Volpe has been a guest lecturer at Columbia UniversityColumbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
and the University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
's Wharton School of Business, as well as at the "Models of Leadership" course for New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
's Stern School of Business, where he teaches a course entitled "Managing in the Performing Arts."
After leaving the Met, Volpe joined Giuliani Partners
Giuliani Partners
Giuliani Partners LLC is a management consulting and security consulting business founded by former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani in January 2002.-Structure:...
, the firm founded by the former New York City mayor after he left office, as a senior vice president. His job was to bring in cultural clients, manage noncultural projects, and draw on the many contacts he made through opera. However, Volpe was not happy there and left in January 2007. As of 2008, he works at Theater Projects Consultants, a leading theater design firm, at its American headquarters, in South Norwalk, Connecticut. (NYTimes, 3/25/08)
Personal life
Volpe was first married at age 20 and has been married three times. He is married to Jean Volpe, a former ballet dancer. Together Joseph and Jean have a daughter, Anna. The Volpe family resides in Manhattan. In addition, Mr. Volpe has seven other children from two previous marriages.Memoir
Volpe's 2006 memoir, The Toughest Show on Earth: My Rise and Reign at the Metropolitan Opera, published by Knopf, describes his 42 years at the Met. The memoir also includes a history of the Metropolitan Opera, beginning with its origins in 1880.Books
- Volpe, Joseph. The Toughest Show on Earth: My Rise and Reign at the Metropolitan Opera. Knopf, 2006