the quality of mersey

In what may be 2008’s most stellar example of unintentional irony, the organization Opera America has elected as its new chairman … a Brit. According to musicalamerica.com, Anthony Freud, newcomer General Director and CEO ofÂ the Houston Grand Opera, will succeed Opera Theater of St. Louis General Director Charles MacKay.

Opera America President Marc Scorca deemed British citizen Freud’s election a “reflection of the importance and stature of Houston Grand Opera among our community of companies and colleagues by whom HGO is considered a leader in innovation and excellence.”

However, notes Musical America’s Susan Eliott, “It should be noted that Freud, longtime general director of the Welsh National Opera, has only been in Houston for two years. It was his predecessor, David Gockley, now general director of the San Francisco Opera, who put the company on the map, serving at the helm of HGO for 33 years.”