Opera in Williamsburg

Opera in Williamsburg Productions LLC is the only organization that creates professional live fully-staged operas in Williamsburg Virginia or any live opera. It was created as Opera in Williamsburg LLC in 2012 and was then fiscally-sponsored by Fractured Atlas. It was founded and owned by Naama Zahavi-Ely as the sole owner. In 2015 Opera in Williamsburg Inc was formed as a non- profit that could receive donations and grants and use them to support specific expenses of producing operas by the LLC company which changed its name to Opera in Williamsburg Productions LLC to avoid confusion. Naama Zahavi-Ely is pres sec treas of the Inc organization and is the Artistic and General Director of Opera in Williamsburg. Our donors and grantors are aware of the two organizations and the relationship between them. An advisory board of community members helps Opera in Williamsburg but is not legally responsible to it and has no fiscal responsibility. Grants from Opera in Williamsburg Inc. to Opera in Williamsburg Productions LLC are for specific documented expenses of producing operas primarily artists' fees. Naama receives no compensation or benefits from either company; artists are engaged by the LLC company which makes paying them the responsibility of the LLC company. Opera in Williamsburg Inc never owes more than it has but can support expenses incurred in past productions in practice never more than from the previous year. The risks of opera producing are taken on by Opera in Williamsburg Productions LLC. The advisory board receives financial reporting but has no fiscal or other legal responsibility except for good will. Opera in Williamsburg Productions LLC has been creating and presenting two fully-staged operas with professional paid casts and creative teams yearly since 2012 except in 2020 when it created an opera by video recorded in each singer and musician's place in COVID closure and edited together. The artistic side of the organization is all professional and paid. The administrative side is volunteer primarily Naama Zahavi-Ely helped by others. Naama Zahavi-Ely receives no compensation or benefits from either Opera in Williamsburg Inc. or Opera in Williamsburg Productions LLC. Artists are engaged for specific productions for well-documented fees and conditions. The relationship between the two organizations is thus both by purpose and by history and ongoing relationship. It is described on our website www.operainwilliamsburg.org under "about." Kinneret Ely who is the daughter of Naama Zahavi-Ely is a professional singer. She does not sing roles in Opera in Williamsburg production to avoid conflicts of interest. Since 2019 she sometimes is a part of the ensemble chorus or performs in concerts in outreach activities. When this is the case her fee is the same as others in the same position -- she is never the sole performer. Naama Zahavi-Ely covers her fee to avoid conflicts of interest. Opera in Williamsburg Virginia has a website a Facebook page plus another for supporters and yet another for the video production of Orfeo ed Euridice and a YouTube channel with thousands of views. Our productions have been very favorably reviewed and the production of Pagliacci outdoors in 2021 which was professionally recorded as all of our productions are was broadcast on public TV locally in 2022.

Provided support to Opera in Williamsburg Productions LLC in creating and presenting Puccini's opera La Boheme with professional cast and creative team and with orchestra. The opera was performed 3 times at the Kimball Theatre in Williamsburg Virginia.

Provided support to Opera in Williamsburg Productions LLC in creating and presenting Mozart's opera Cosi fan tutte with professional cast and creative team and with orchestra. The opera was performed 4 times at the Kimball Theatre in Williamsburg Virginia.