Maria Todaro appointed interim general director of Florida Grand Opera

Florence Lockheart
Thursday, October 26, 2023

Todaro succeeds outgoing general director Susan T Danis, who has held the position since 2012

Todaro: 'My primary goal is to wholeheartedly align with the vision of our esteemed board of directors and to build upon the remarkable achievements of my predecessors' © Tania Barricklo
Todaro: 'My primary goal is to wholeheartedly align with the vision of our esteemed board of directors and to build upon the remarkable achievements of my predecessors' © Tania Barricklo

Florida Grand Opera (FGO) has announced that stage director Maria Todaro has been appointed as interim director, succeeding outgoing general director and CEO Susan T Danis who has held the role since 2012 and confirmed she will continue to work with the company into the coming season to ensure a smooth transition period.

Following Danis’s announcement last month that she intended to step down from the role ‘to pursue another opportunity’, a search committee has worked quickly to find her replacement, settling on Todaro who, alongside her direction credentials, is also a fight choreographer, stunt artist, writer and conductor.

President of the FGO board of directors Per-Olof Loof said: ‘It was obvious to us that she is the right person to build on the legacy of Susan T Danis and guide our beloved opera throughout this season. With her well-established background in so many different aspects of the opera industry, we know Maria’s talent and experience will generate the same admiration throughout the South Florida community that it has in the supporters and stakeholders of Florida Grand Opera.’

Having begun her career as a mezzo-soprano, Todaro has directed 23 productions (including 16 original productions) for companies including Minnesota Opera, Atlanta Opera, and Hawaii Opera Theater. Alongside her new role, she will continue to lead the Hudson Valley (N.Y.) International Festival of the Voice, which she co-founded in 2009.

Todaro said: ‘I am truly humbled to have been entrusted with the responsibility of advancing Florida Grand Opera. My primary goal is to wholeheartedly align with the vision of our esteemed board of directors and to build upon the remarkable achievements of my predecessors as we embark on an exciting new phase of growth, with the aim of increasing our influence and relevance within our community. In a world often marked by crises and despair, FGO's role remains of paramount importance, introducing as many individuals as possible to the transformative and healing power of opera.’