Opera conductor James Caraher, Artistic Director of Indianapolis Opera for the past sixteen years, continues to “wow” his audiences and critics with impressive productions. He has been acclaimed for his deliberate attention to ensemble casting and collaboration between all performers – in the pit and on stage. The success of his collaborative philosophy is well stated in these remarks about his production of Wagner’s Der Fliegende Holländer: “The real stars of this production, however, were Caraher and the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra…the Indianapolis Opera artistic director had his players and singers integrated and balanced to near perfection.”
Often referred to as “the singers’ conductor,” Mr. Caraher is a master at controlling the reins of the many forces of grand opera while clearly communicating his musical desires to each performer. American Record Guide said of his Ballad of Baby Doe: “Caraher led a gently effective accompaniment, with careful regard for the needs of his singers.” And Opera News posted that “The Indianapolis Symphony responded to Caraher’s every wish” in Indianapolis Opera’s production of Macbeth.
Caraher’s recent seasons with the Indianapolis Opera have included performances of Il Barbiere di Siviglia, Madama Butterfly, The Crucible, Falstaff, Werther, Les Contes d’Hoffman, Cosí Fan Tutte, Lucia di Lammermoor, Les Pêcheurs de Perles, The Merry Widow, Le Nozze di Figaro, Turandot, Carmen, La Fille du Regiment, Die Zauberflöte and Tosca.
Caraher first realized his fondness for opera while a rehearsal accompanist for Tri-Cities Opera in Binghamton, New York. From there he moved to The Syracuse Opera Company as assistant music director and chorus master ending his first season at the podium with a performance of Rigoletto. Showing talent and poise, the young Caraher was promoted to music director and principal conductor. He held this position until 1988 when a partnership between Syracuse Opera and Indianapolis Opera enabled him to expand his horizons to include the title and duties of music director for Indianapolis Opera. For several seasons, he assumed the additional responsibility of music director for Opera Memphis. His tenure as artistic director and principal conductor of Indianapolis Opera has been one of growing success for the company and its audiences.
In 2001, Caraher participated in a joint production of Porgy and Bess for the Indianapolis Opera and Opera Company of Philadelphia. The sold-out production was proclaimed by The Philadelphia Inquirer as “one of the Opera Company of Philadelphia’s great triumphs of music and stagecraft.”
Caraher frequently serves as guest conductor for other symphonies and opera companies and has lent his talents to The Opera Company of Philadelphia, Nashville Opera, Kentucky Opera, Opera Memphis, New Jersey Opera Festival, Imperial Symphony Orchestra (Florida), El Paso Opera, Fargo-Moorhead Opera, Youngstown Symphony, Greater Buffalo Opera and Opera Delaware. He devotes much of his time to the development of young singers while directing the Indianapolis Opera Ensemble, the company’s Young Artist Program, and has spent several summers as a music director for the Ash Lawn Highland Music Festival in Charlottesville, Virginia. In addition to symphonic literature and opera, Mr. Caraher enjoys conducting musical theater and ballet, and is an active vocal coach and accompanist.
In 1988, Mr. Caraher was honored by his alma mater, Hamilton College, in Clinton New York, with the Hamilton College Alumni Medal for significant contributions to the performing arts. In 2004, on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of his conducting debut, he was given the honor of being declared a Sagamore of the Wabash, Indiana’s most prestigious civic award, by then Governor Joe Kernan, and was made a Distinguished Citizen of the City of Indianapolis by Mayor Bart Peterson.
Mr. Caraher has arranged and produced two audiotapes for children. The first was a collection of safety songs called Play It Safe, and the second, Peace Is For Everyone, was a commission by the Indiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence. He lives in Indianapolis, Indiana, with his wife, Denise, and his two children, Paige and Patrick.
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