Former Metropolitan Opera general manager, Joseph Volpe, has made an astounding career at the company. And as of late Volpe and his wife Jean, a ballet teacher and former principal soloist with the company, plan on wintering on Longboat Key and opening a new opera house in Athens, Greece.
Working his way from apprentice carpenter to GM, Volpe made headlines, as The New York Times put it, as a "famously demanding impresario." Having jumped from one ship to the next, Volpe will be vacationing away from any sort of polar vortex this season.
But this isn't any sort of normal vacation. As Joseph tells Sarasota Magazine, his hidden agenda was to get involved with the ballet and, thus, has joined the board of the Sarasota Ballet. Shocking, we know.
Though the winter is much more pleasant in a more temperate climate like Florida, the merits of continuing a career even in his retirement is vast and will give Sarasota a similar experience that New York was lucky to have.
An exclusive interview in SM details everything from leaving the Met Opera to beach walking and bird watching. Make your way over for some insight into the old foreman of the opera.
But for now, check out a performance from his company below.
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