“The Board’s unanimous decision reflects both confidence and gratitude,” said Charles C. Freyer, Chair of the Opera Philadelphia Board of Directors. “Anthony and Corrado have guided Opera Philadelphia through an extraordinary period of renewal—artistically, financially, and organizationally—and we are thrilled to extend their leadership as the company builds toward its next chapter.”

That momentum has extended beyond the balance sheet. In September 2025, Opera Philadelphia launched its first-ever major fundraising campaign, the 50th Anniversary “Opera, But Different” initiative, with a goal of raising $33 million over three years. With a view toward long-term artistic innovation, financial sustainability, and critical investment to ensure the future of major efforts like Pick Your Price, the campaign has raised $21 million to date.

“The incredible growth and change that has taken root at Opera Philadelphia is thanks to the partnership and vision of our amazing board, artists, staff, supporters, and audiences, new and old,” said Costanzo. “It is a privilege not only to lead this company, but to have an artistic soul mate like Corrado Rovaris by my side, reminding me at every turn how our passion for the art form can always lead the way.”

Equally significant has been the company’s success in growing trust and alignment with its artists. Costanzo, a musician himself, recently brought to completion a collaborative negotiation process with its major unions, including the Orchestra and AFM Local 77, resulting in mutually beneficial agreements that reflect shared values around artistic excellence and institutional stability.

“The successful, collaborative completion of our agreements speaks volumes,” said Ellen Trainer, president of the Philadelphia Musicians’ Union. “There was a true spirit of partnership at the table and a shared belief that Opera Philadelphia’s future depends on both its artists and the institution thriving together.”

Costanzo has also expanded Opera Philadelphia’s civic footprint through bold partnerships including Pipe Up!, a performance series that reactivated the historic Wanamaker Building in collaboration with real estate developer TF Cornerstone and the Wyncote Foundation. Built around the preservation and reawakening of the Wanamaker Organ and Grand Court, the series brought 33 performances into the space and reached thousands more through WHYY’s televised and radio broadcasts of the holiday spectacular.

Artistically, the Costanzo–Rovaris partnership has been marked by a powerful combination of leadership and creativity. In December, Costanzo starred in The Seasons, a reimagining of Vivaldi conceived with playwright Sarah Ruhl and led by Rovaris, which played to sold-out houses. The company will next present the World Premiere of Complications in Sue, a new opera with music by 10 composers that unfolds in 10 vignettes by Pulitzer and Tony Award-winning playwright Michael R. Jackson (A Strange Loop) in his operatic debut.  (Feb. 4-8 at the Academy of Music). Under Costanzo, the company has grown from three productions and nine performances to five productions and eighteen performances. 

Rovaris, now in his 21st season with Opera Philadelphia, is widely revered for his command of styles and repertoire across a broad spectrum, blazing through music from the baroque to the core canon to contemporary works. He is celebrated not only for his vibrant musicality and warm presence, but also for his commitment to theatricality, making him a favorite of marquee singers. Appointed in 2005 as the company’s first-ever music director, he has been instrumental in shaping Opera Philadelphia’s identity as a leader in contemporary opera. He has lead premieres of works like Breaking the Waves and The Listeners by Missy Mazzoli, Elizabeth Cree by Pulitzer Prize-winner Kevin Puts, and he conducts the World Premiere of Gregeory Spears’s Sleepers Awake this April.

“It is a joy to partner with Anthony Roth Costanzo, whose leadership, creativity, and energy are a beacon,” said Rovaris. “And on top of that—where else in the world can the Music Director and the General Director occasionally get to make music together? Opera Philadelphia is a special and vital part of this city and of the greater opera community, and I look forward to continuing to bring innovation, beauty, and great artistry to our stages for many years to come.”

In conjunction with the contract extensions, Costanzo has announced the appointment of David Levy as Executive Vice President. A fourteen-year veteran of Opera Philadelphia, Levy takes on this new role encompassing artistic and organizational long-term planning, operations, as well as internal and external engagement and stewardship. Bringing a passion for the art form and vital strategic skills, Levy, who begins this new role on February 9, will partner with Costanzo to support continued organizational growth.