Extension proposed for Mark

A proposal to extend Peter Mark’s tenure as artistic director of the Virginia Opera for an extra season will be presented to the opera board on Oct. 30. Under its terms, Mark would remain artistic director through the 2012-13 season, conducting one production in 2011-12 and one in 2012-13, thereafter taking the title artistic director emeritus. Mark reportedly has agreed to the plan, writes Teresa Annas of The Virginian-Pilot (Norfolk):

http://hamptonroads.com/2010/10/proposal-submitted-extend-opera-directors-job?cid=ltst

The opera board’s executive committee has decided not to renew Mark’s contract when it expires at the end of the
2011-12 season. A group of dissenting board members, led by Edythe C. Harrison, the company’s founding president, has been campaigning to keep Mark, who has been in artistic charge of the company since 1975.

OCT. 31 UPDATE: The Pilot's Annas reports that the board discussed but did not vote on the extension proposal:

http://hamptonroads.com/2010/10/virginia-opera-board-discusses-directors-contract