Artistic Director Robert Lyall Leaving Opera Grand Rapids

Opera Grand Rapids’ Artistic Director Robert Lyall announced he will resign following next month’s production of Britten’s “Noah’s Flood” after a 26-year tenure. Lyall was named General and Artistic Director of the New Orleans Opera Association (NOOA) in December of 1998, and he has since retained positions with both NOOA and Opera Grand Rapids. Upon his departure, Lyall will devote his energy to further plans and aspirations for NOOA’s forthcoming seasons.

“My decision is driven by my desire to focus more exclusively on the maintenance and development of the New Orleans Opera. I am in the process of developing expanded and challenging goals for the company,” said Lyall. He recently renewed a three-year contract with NOOA. NOOA’s 2017-2018 season will be a confluence of the 300th anniversary of the City of New Orleans, the 222nd year of opera in New Orleans, and the 75th anniversary for the New Orleans opera company. “I have projected ambitious repertory and development goals to benefit from the coincidence of these anniversaries.”

Since 1989 when Lyall joined Opera Grand Rapids, he has accumulated a significant number of achievements and successes. Most recently, Lyall was praised for his “dynamic presentation” conducting the Grand Rapids Symphony in the most recent production of Bizet’s “Carmen.” “We are fortunate to have been blessed with Robert’s knowledge and exceptional talent for so many years. His work has been instrumental in bringing high-quality opera to West Michigan,” said Opera Grand Rapids’ Trustee Win Irwin. Lyall’s departure will coincide with the completion of Opera Grand Rapids’ winter production of “Noah’s Flood”, of which Lyall will be conducting and directing.

Opera Grand Rapids is assembling a search committee to find a candidate who will be influential in guiding the company’s aspiring future ventures.