JAMES MEENA
CONDUCTOR
BIOGRAPHY
Maestro James Meena, Opera Carolina’s General Director and Principal Conductor since 2000, consistently earns critical acclaim for his artistic vision, executive leadership, and dynamic presence on the podium.
In his 25-year tenure with Opera Carolina, he has elevated the company’s performance standards to those of a major regional theater, expanded the education department by 100-fold, and, in the face of corporate and government funding cutbacks, generated twice the requisite private sector funding needed to meet the goals of the company. Early in his career in Charlotte, he established the company’s first Endowment, which today boasts assets of more than $3.5 million, as well as increasing the annual budget from $1.2 million to $3.8 million.
His personal commitment to civic engagement has resulted in a more culturally diverse board of directors, resident performing company, and audience. Today, Opera Carolina’s average audience age is 48 years old, with diversity statistics of 33% Black, 38% white, 23% Latinx, and 5% AAPI.
Musically, the breadth of Mo. Meena’s repertoire is represented by the traditional works of Mozart, Beethoven, Puccini, Berlioz, and Verdi. He most recently led the new production of Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte for four prestigious Italian theaters in Como, Brescia, Pavia, and Cremona; Puccini’s Turandot in the historic amphitheaters of Taorimina and Sicarusa, Sicily; a double-bill of Rachmaninoff’s Aleko paired with Pagliacci and La fanciulla del West, both with the restored New York City Opera; La fanciulla del West for five Italian theaters: Teatro di Giglio in Lucca, Teatro Verdi in Pisa, Teatro Alighieri di Ravenna, Teatro Pavarotti di Modena, and Teatro Goldoni di Livorno, plus several productions for Opera Carolina, Toledo Opera, and Opera Grand Rapids; a gala concert with the Toledo Symphony Orchestra and Renée Fleming; Porgy and Bess with Margaret Island Open-Air Theatre in Budapest for their Summer Festival; Turandot with Tulsa Opera; La bohème with the Puccini Festival in Torre del Lago as well as Opéra de Montréal; and a Masterworks Concert with Memphis Symphony Orchestra.
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CRITICAL ACCLAIM
“…served as the ultimate capstone…” – Toledo Blade
Carmen – “The Toledo Symphony in the pit, lead by maestro James Meena, played with a precision and sensitivity that served as the ultimate capstone in this pinnacle artistic endeavor.”
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"...conveyed the work’s seamless structure and richness...” – The New York Times
La fanciulla del West – “The conductor James Meena drew a surging, plush performance from the City Opera Orchestra … Mr. Meena and his players conveyed the work’s seamless structure and richness.
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“...Maestro Meena as usual was rather perfect in his conducting..." – Opera Lively
Il barbiere di Siviglia – “Maestro Meena as usual was rather perfect in his conducting of the excellent Charlotte Symphony. …the pit was lively and colorful”
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“...James Meena conducted this “Lucia” with a lightness and brio that lifted the score..." – The Charlotte Observer
Lucia di Lammermoor – “James Meena conducted this “Lucia” with a lightness and brio that lifted the score. The strings had a lustrous sheen. Mention should be made of the flutist, Amy Orsinger Whitehead, who accompanied Lucia in her mad scene like a shadow. Compliments are also in order for the harpist, and the fervent chorus.”
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"...evoked intensity of color, luminous sonority and thrilling moments..." – The New York Times
"Opera Gala " – “Maestro James Meena evoked intensity of color, luminous sonority and thrilling moments which were devoted to an exquisitely impassioned performance.”