Benjamin Robinson, Artistic Director
If you would like to contribute to the Artistic Director Fund campaign please e-mail us at raylynmor@outlook.com
Ben Robinson is the Artistic Director of Raylynmor Opera, General Director and CEO of Kentucky Opera, and General Director of Anchorage Opera. A director, librettist, designer, and producer, he has built a multifaceted career grounded in reinterpretation and storytelling that connects with contemporary audiences. His work spans Baroque to contemporary repertoire and has been recognized for its “inspired” vision and “engaging” storytelling.
His directing work includes Macbeth for Opera Tampa; Aida, The Medium | Gianni Schicchi, Mozart in The Museum, and L’elisir d’amore for Anchorage Opera; and a cruise-ship reimagining of L’Italiana in Algeri, described by Opera News as “physically lively,” along with A Little Night Music for St. Petersburg Opera, both earning Theatre Tampa Bay Best Director nominations. Additional projects include a soap-opera–inspired Così fan tutte; a “deftly directed” (Opera News) Cendrillon for Cedar Rapids Opera; Ariodante (First Place, Division V, National Opera Association) and Hänsel und Gretel for Temple University; Orpheus in the Underworld for Opera Ithaca and Raylynmor Opera; and the world premiere of Sally Lamb McCune’s We Wear the Sea Like a Coat for Ithaca College.
In 2020, Robinson directed the internationally acclaimed film Gianni Schicchi for Opera Ithaca, which Opera Magazine hailed as “the deftest use… of Covid-era technology as part of modern operatic reality.” He is a 2021 recipient of the Ewing Arts Award, honoring artistic excellence in New Hampshire’s Monadnock region. His film Bastien and Bastienne (January 2021), featuring his original English translation, was selected for the Arlington International Film Festival. In February 2023, his 2022 Julia Child–inspired Hänsel und Gretel, described by Opera News as “moving” and “visually daring,” joined the Opera Philadelphia Channel and was later streamed in a series of outdoor public events for the company in September 2023.
Upcoming projects include Il barbiere di Siviglia, Così fan tutte, L’enfant et les sortilèges, and Salome with Kentucky Opera, Macbeth with Anchorage Opera, and Die Fledermaus with St. Petersburg Opera.
Board of Directors
Jonathan C. Marshall, President
Jaffrey, NH
Andrew Manns, Treasurer
Peterborough, NH
Robert B. Dundas
Miami, FL
Donna Garner
Dublin, NH
Frank Karlicek
Rindge, NH
Join Us
In addition to financial support, producing live opera requires countless hours of work. As a small company we do not have legions of staff. We rely on volunteers to bring our productions to life. We are seeking individuals to help us make every part of the season a success. We need housing for artists, people with technical theater skills and many in-kind gifts to keep presenting high quality opera. If you are interested in helping us make all of this possible, please contact Jonathan Marshall at sparafucile45@hotmail.com
Interested in the rewards and challenges of running an opera company? We also need dedicated Board members with skills and interest in marketing, development, production, business, and education who share our excitement for opera and are interested in joining our mission to bring live opera to the Monadnock region. If you are interested in becoming part of Team Raylynmor, please contact Jonathan Marshall at sparafucile45@hotmail.com
Advisors
Thomas M. Ewing
Keene, NH
Dr. Robin Kenney
Peterborough, NH