| | Abstract: | The Cleveland Opera Association was incorporated in 1944 as a non-profit organization to promote and present concerts in Cleveland, Ohio. The founder, Giacomo Bernardi, served as managing director until his death in 1966. After his death, his wife, Harriet, served as manager. Board of trustee members included Harry F. Payer, William Stinchcomb, Benjamin Nicola, Willard W. Brown, Thomas A. Farwick, and Chisholm Halle. Performers were both classical and popular musicians and artists. These included the Bolshoi Ballet, Jose Greco, Yehudi Menuhin, Vladimir Horowitz, Andres Segovia, Jan Pierce, Lily Pons, Marian Anderson, Charles Laughton, Victor Borge, and Simon and Garfunkel. Most of the performances took place in Music Hall. The predecessor of the Cleveland Opera Association was the Cleveland Concert Association, organized by Giacomo Bernardi in 1919 and operated by him until its demise in 1932. The collection consists of newspaper clippings, letters, and other materials relating to Giacomo Bernardi; association financial reports; minutes of meetings; and scrapbooks of performances. The scrapbooks contain both programs and newspaper clippings. | |
