New Opera Carolina conductor begins in Charlotte amid leadership shakeup, lawsuit

Opera Carolina has named a new principal conductor following last month’s departure of the Charlotte company’s longtime maestro and amid a contentious lawsuit over a leadership shakeup.

Maestro Stefano Vignati began his appointment Thursday as music director and principal conductor, Opera Carolina said in a news release. By elevating Vignati, they chose someone who is the husband of the opera company’s artistic director, Claudio Ferri.

Vignati replaces James Meena, who joined Opera Carolina in 2000 as general director and principal conductor.

Now in its 75th season, Opera Carolina is one of the Charlotte region’s oldest cultural institutions and is the largest opera company in the Carolinas. But it also has been roiled of late by a lawsuit from its former production director claiming he was fired without cause, and by the departure of Meena, its longtime leader.

Meena had served as artistic director until February, when Opera Carolina announced on social media that Ferri would replace him. Last year, Ferri also was named deputy general director of the opera.

When asked whether it was a conflict of interest for the company to hire the spouse of its artistic director, Opera Carolina said Friday that Ferri did not participate in the decision to hire Vignati, and Vignati will report to general director Shante Williams.

Opera Carolina did not make either Williams or Vignanti available for an interview with the Observer.

Meena’s departure

For years, Meena had been the face of Opera Carolina.

But he left the company to “pursue new opportunities,” an announcement from Meena and Opera Carolina board chair Carol Kendrick said on his social media pages. Meena and his spokeswoman have not responded to requests for comment from the Observer.

Meena had hired Vignati in 2022 as “staff support,” Opera Carolina said. He made his Charlotte debut in 2023 conducting Mozart’s “The Marriage of Figaro.”

The process to replace Meena began in July with candidate interviews as part of a succession plan, Opera Carolina said Friday. “Due to budget constraints, the decision was made to promote from within for what would be a newly-designed role that would focus more on musical development,” Opera Carolina said.

Opera Carolina’s total revenue was $2.9 million, down from $3.7 million the prior year, according to the 2023 tax document.

Vignati “fit the organization’s vision for its newly designed role,” Opera Carolina said.

Who is Stefano Vignati?

Vignati is a conductor and educator with nearly 30 years experience, Opera Carolina said. He has conducted operas throughout the world, including in Italy, Switzerland, the United States, Canada, Bulgaria, China, Serbia, Germany, Slovenia, the Republic of Macedonia, Croatia and Russia.

From 2017 to 2022, he was also a professor and director of the Drake Opera Theater at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa.

During his time at Drake, Vignati and Ferri were featured in a children’s book told through the eyes of their adoptive baby son, the Times-Delphic student paper reported. The book is called “Two Dads Under the Christmas Tree.”

Vignati also serves as principal guest conductor at New York City Opera and artistic director of the International Lyric Academy, a group he founded in Italy. Ferri is listed on the school’s website as a former executive director and Meena as principal guest conductor.

In Charlotte, Vignati will conduct at least one main stage production per season and will help shape the musical direction of the company, Opera Carolina said.

Vignati will return to the podium in Charlotte for a production of Puccini’s double bill, “Suor Angelica and Gianni Schicchi,” to open the 2025-26 main stage season.

This year, he will represent Opera Carolina as music director at such venues as New York City Opera, Macedonian National Opera in Skopje, North Macedonia and at several theaters and festivals in Italy.

A naturalized U.S. citizen, Vignati is the first Italian native in this role with Opera Carolina, Carol Kendrick, chair of the Opera Carolina Board of Directors said in a statement.

Opera leadership changes and a lawsuit

Vignati isn’t the only change in leadership Opera Carolina has seen over the past year.

Williams is the second woman to lead the opera following Beth Hansen, who was executive director from 2018 to 2020. Williams was hired as general director last July.

Williams had replaced Meena as business director, while Meena continued as artistic director until April.

In December, Michael Baumgarten filed a lawsuit claiming Williams failed to uphold his employment contract as director of production when he was fired without cause last fall.

Baumgarten is seeking in excess of $25,000 from Opera Carolina and Williams, and a jury trial. In March, Williams filed a counterclaim in Mecklenburg County Court, accusing Baumgarten of tarnishing her reputation as Opera Carolina’s leader.

The case has been sent to mediation, according to the latest court filings, with a settlement conference in September. If a settlement is not reached, a trial is scheduled in October.

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This story was originally published May 5, 2025 at 5:48 AM.