The principal conductor of the Minnesota Opera is giving up that job to become music director of the New York City Opera.
George Manahan, who also is music director of the Richmond (Va.) Symphony, will spend as much time with the New York City Opera as he can over the next few months before taking on his new job full time next fall, said Paul Kellogg, the New York City Opera's general director.Manahan has been the Richmond Symphony's musical director since 1987 and principal conductor of the Minnesota Opera since 1988. He will remain with the Richmond Symphony but relinquish his position with the Minnesota Opera.
The Atlanta native was acting music director of the New Jersey Symphony from 1983 to 1985 and music director of the New York City Opera National Company from 1984 to 1986.
He has been a frequent guest conductor of the Santa Fe, N.M., Opera and will conduct the premiere of Tobias Picker's "Emmeline" there next summer.