ARTISTIC DIRECTOR/CONDUCTOR

Anton Coppola brings many years of experience to the podium, having conducted almost all of the important opera companies in the United States and Canada including the San Francisco and New York City Operas. Known for his range and versatility, Coppola has conducted the world premieres of Lizzie Borden, Deseret and Of Mice and Men, as well as many Broadway musicals. Mr. Coppola has also worked with the Royal Opera Orchestra and opera soprano Angela Gheorghiu to release a complete recording of Puccini works. After serving four years as an army bandmaster during World War II, he moved on to conduct at Radio City Music Hall. For 15 years, he was the director of both the Symphony and Opera Departments at the Manhattan School of Music and holds a Master’s degree in composition. Among his larger works are a symphony, an opera, a violin concerto and numerous film scores. Coppola has conducted important revivals of Zaza, Mireille and Falstaff, as well as appearing in his nephew Francis Ford Coppola’s film, Godfather III. He also conducted the score for the Coppola film Dracula. Coppola most recently received honorary Doctorates from the University of Tampa and Quinnitiac University in Connecticut. He was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Puccini Foundation and recognized by the Italian government as Cavaliere, Gran Ufficiale. Anton Coppola has conducted all of Opera Tampa’s productions: Madama Butterfly (1996), Carmen (1997), La Bohème (1998), Tosca (1999), Hansel and Gretel (1999), La Traviata (2000), The Marriage of Figaro (2000), the world premiere of his opera Sacco & Vanzetti (2001), An Evening of Verdi & Puccini (2001), Die Fledermaus (2001), Basically Bernstein (2002) Rigoletto (2002), Cavalleria Rusticana and Pagliacci (2002), Otello (2003) and Turandot (2004).

Click here to read about the Anton Coppola "Excellence in the Arts" Award