Bob Heuer to Bid Farewell to Florida Grand Opera Audiences, 4/21

When Robert M. Heuer, Florida Grand Opera's General Director and CEO steps onto the stage prior to the opening night performance of Roméo and Juliette at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts this Saturday, April 21 2012, at 7:00 pm, he will, in effect, be saying farewell to many loyal fans and supporters who are perhaps unaware of his impending retirement on May 31, 2012.

For 32 years, Heuer has led the 71-year-old company to great heights, achieving national recognition for exquisitely sung and artistically designed productions, reaching 60,000 to 80,000 people annually. Originally, he had planned to retire in 2013, but decided to move it up a year to allow himself added time to get settled into his retirement home in Alsace, France.  Based on his success in identifying young talent and nurturing their development through FGO's Young Artist Program, he plans to become active in scouting for new talent in Europe for Florida Grand Opera as well as for the opera world in general.

"I have spent the majority of my professional life with Florida Grand Opera," says Heuer. "Although I will no longer be participating in the day-to-day routine, the company and its loyal staff, performers and patrons are deeply ingrained in my soul."  Heuer intends to be helpful in every way possible and looks forward to attending future opera productions. "It will be like coming home to visit family," he says.

FGO's Board Chair Jane A. Robinson and Victor H. Mendelson, Board President, concur that Heuer's inspired leadership was deeply meaningful to the art-form and to the South Florida community and that he will be sorely missed. "We are so grateful that Bob will remain a devoted friend and advisor to FGO and we wish him the utmost happiness in his well-deserved retirement," said Robinson.

The search for a new CEO/General Director, which was established earlier this year, is well underway.  It is anticipated that Heuer's successor will be in place prior to opening night of La bohème  on November 17, 2012. In the interim, Kevin Mynatt, FGO's Managing Director, will continue to oversee daily operations and will report directly to FGO's Board of Directors.