Opera Pacific Records, 1962-2008

Collection context

Summary

Title:
Opera Pacific Records
Dates:
1962-2008
Abstract:
These papers contain extensive material relating to the productions and operation of the Opera Pacific theater group that operated in Orange County from 1962 until 2008
Extent:
57.5 Linear feet (46 cartons)
Language:
English.
Preferred citation:

[identify item], Opera Pacific Records (2009.05.r), Frank Mt. Pleasant Library of Special Collections and Archives, Chapman University, CA.

Background

Scope and content:

Approx. 46 cartons of production books, promotional material and audio/visual material from Opera Pacific, 1962-2008.

Biographical / historical:

Opera Pacific traces its roots to 1962 and the Festival of Opera Association in Laguna Beach, CA. These early productions were sung in English and performed during late summer at the Irvine Bowl.

Then the Opera League of Laguna Beach, coordinated by Velma Sun and with Nunzio Crisci as managing director, was created to encourage and sustain interest in the Festival of Opera. In the early 1980s, members of the Laguna organization and other opera lovers from Orange County joined together in anticipation of the opening of the Orange County Performing Arts Center in Costa Mesa. Opera Pacific was incorporated in 1983 as the county's resident opera company.

1985 was the opening season for the new company with David DiChiera as general director. The company put on an average of six productions per season and also hosted an "Opera Camp" geared to educating young people in appreciating opera.

On November 4, 2008 the announcement was made that the remainder of the 2008 was being cancelled and Opera Pacific closed down all operations soon after due to financial difficulties.

Acquisition information:
The Opera Pacific Records were donated to the Frank Mt. Pleasant Library of Special Collections and Archives by William Hall, DMA.
Arrangement:

This collection is arranged in series by material type.

Physical location:
Leatherby Libraries
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:
Finding aid prepared by Randolph Boyd
Date Prepared:
07/23/2010
Date Encoded:
This finding aid was produced using the Archivists' Toolkit 2010-08-05T13:17-0700

Access and use

Restrictions:

This collection is open for research.

Terms of access:

The material in this collection is under copyright by the various artists who originally produced it. It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain permission to use any material from this collection from the original artists.

Preferred citation:

[identify item], Opera Pacific Records (2009.05.r), Frank Mt. Pleasant Library of Special Collections and Archives, Chapman University, CA.

Location of this collection:
One University Drive
Orange, CA 92866, US
Contact:
(714) 532-7719