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Highlander named president of Opera Theatre of N. Va.
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ARLINGTON - Lewis Freeman, a resident of Highland County and Arlington, has been elected president of the board of directors of Opera Theatre of Northern Virginia.
Opera Theatre, based in Arlington and founded in 1962, is the oldest existing opera company in Virginia. The company produces three operas a year, fully-staged with orchestra, including an annual children's opera that is performed for school children from through the Northern Virginia area.
Artistic director of the company is John Edward Niles, son of American composer John Jacob Niles, who is beginning his 26th season as Opera Theatre's artistic director.
In assuming his Opera Theatre leadership position, Freeman said the company plans to explore new performing opportunities in addition to the company's traditional presentations in Arlington, including communities in western Virginia. "Opera is one of the oldest and most important forms of performing art. It should be available to those who live in areas of Virginia beyond the metropolitan areas. We hope to help make that happen."
Freeman is a public policy consultant and trade association executive, most recently having served as president of the Employers Council on Flexible Compensation, representing businesses involved in employer-provided health care plans. He is also a professional singer and has performed extensively with Opera Theatre of Northern Virginia, as well as with orchestras and choral groups throughout the Mid-Atlantic region. In May he sang the title role in Opera Theatre's critically acclaimed production of Donizetti's Don Pasquale.
The 2007-08 Opera Theatre season will feature performances of Hansel and Gretel by Humperdinck, a double-bill of Gilbert and Sullivan's Trial By Jury and Vaughn-Williams' Riders to the Sea, and Donizetti's Elixir of Love.
Further information about Opera Theatre of Northern Virginia is available on its Web site at www.novaopera.org or by calling 703-528-1433.
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