Article: Scott Altman"Leading Man: An interview with New Jersey Opera Theater's artistic director, Scott Altman"Princeton Magazine (Erin Murphy Sanders) Scott Altman, 37, jokes that he reports to his wife, Lisa, New Jersey Opera Theater’s (NJOT) executive director, at work and at home. Starting on a shoestring in 2002 and taking what he calls fiscally responsible baby steps, they’ve built NJOT into a year-round professional opera company offering main stage productions, training for pre-professionals and arts education. A lyric bass and former adjunct voice instructor at Princeton University, Altman has performed with the New York City Opera and Opera Festival of New Jersey, as well as nationwide. We spoke with him at NJOT’s offices in Princeton Junction. Why start an opera company?We began NJOT because we saw a need for education for children and emerging professionals and we wanted to bring national-level productions to this area from September through May. We never wanted to go near what Opera Festival of New Jersey (OFNJ) was doing (a summer festival). We didn’t get a salary for two years, so it was very much a labor of love. Lisa left OFNJ where she was artistic administrator and worked for NJOT while I was still performing for New York City Opera. The company was born just before our eldest son. So, NJOT is definitely one of our children. What are you working on?I just directed The Magic Flute and Carmen for our Explorations in Opera statewide tour that reaches almost 15,000 kids. Any singing?No. It’s a very interesting time for me as a performer, because I’m very keen on the needs of NJOT, which must take precedence. I’ve also made it a point not to schedule myself singing with the company. I feel it’s very important to wear one hat at a time until NJOT is very mature. What was the scariest moment in the last season?We had a couple of fun moments in Falstaff. Within a five-day rehearsal period, I had to replace two major roles. Being an artistic director is not a 9 to 5 job. Matter of fact, it’s mostly not a 9 to 5 job. The arts world runs on a very different clock. Things happen at all hours. What’s ahead for NJOT?We came within an eyelash of selling out all SummerFest 2005 performances. So, we’ve expanded the number of performances, added professional artists to the mix and increased the production and technical budgets so you’ll see even more imaginative and creative productions. Next season, our concert opera, Puccini’s Turandot, will move to the McCarter’s Matthews Stage and we’ll debut at the State Theater in New Brunswick. Any fairy tale stories?There is a very talented young soprano, Anne Nash, that I had the pleasure of directing in Don Giovanni in our 2004 summer program and who was part of our Singer Circle apprentice program. In February, she returned as a professional artist to sing a featured role in Falstaff and, in May, she’s making her solo debut with the Opera Company of Philadelphia. That really encapsulates the heart of what NJOT is about – creating opportunity and nurturing emerging artists to the professional level. How can people get a taste?There’s tremendous opportunity. We have Arias & Ensembles in the fall and spring at the Grounds for Sculpture and the Zimmerli Art Museum and free Musical Theater Under the Stars summer concerts at Pettoranello Gardens. We also give lots of previews where we present snippets from the operas. |
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