New opera boss fires chief conductor and productions director

It’s lawyers at dawn in the Deep South as executives at Opera Carolina demand their day in court against the company and its general director Shanté Williams.

It has emerged that Williams, appointed last July, fired principal conductor and artistic director.James Meena, followed by Michael Baumgarten, his productions and casting director. Baumgarten, who was in the job since 2005, is suing for breach of contract. Williams (pictured) says she has been defamed.

Story here.

UPDATE: Opera Carolina’s PR points out that the firing decisions were made at the ‘sole discretion and direction of Opera Carolina’s Chairperson of the Board of Directors.’ With the consent, at least passive, of the general director.