Pittsburgh Opera’s rehearsal hall renamed after Christopher Hahn

Christopher Hahn, center, in the newly-renamed Hahn Rehearsal Hall, with Izear Winfrey, left, and Ron Booth Credit: David Bachman

Pittsburgh Opera officially named its rehearsal hall in honor of retiring General Director Christopher Hahn during an intimate ceremony on May 28. The Hahn Rehearsal Hall recognizes a leader who shaped the artistic life of the company and the careers of countless artists who passed through its doors.

The Hall has been the heart of Pittsburgh Opera since 2008, when the company moved its headquarters to 2425 Liberty Avenue in the Strip District and custom-built the space for its needs. Every production the company produces begins there, from first rehearsal through studio run-through. The building itself, the Bitz Opera Factory, began life as George Westinghouse's air brake factory in 1869. More on its history can be found here.

It is fitting that the room where every Pittsburgh Opera production takes shape now carries Christopher Hahn's name. He has served as General Director since 2008 and as Artistic Director since 2000. A native of South Africa, he began his opera career in 1983 as Rehearsal Administrator at San Francisco Opera, went on to lead the San Francisco Opera Center and its world-renowned Merola Opera Program, and following thirteen years in San Francisco served as Artistic Administrator at Los Angeles Opera. The breadth of that path, and the depth of his tenure here, is what the Hahn Rehearsal Hall now honors.

The campaign to name the Hall raised more than $540,000, a tribute given by a community that has felt his influence firsthand. Its Visionary Benefactors were Christine and Robert Pietrandrea; its Artistic Champions were Nachum Golan and Steve Hough, Jean Anne Hattler, PhD, and Tara E. Kovach. Many other generous patrons across Pittsburgh and the wider opera community gave alongside them.

“For 26 years, Christopher has shaped not only what happens on our stage but who we are as a company. This Hall celebrates his legacy, and is a testament to his dedication to Pittsburgh Opera and the larger world of opera. We are proud, and profoundly grateful," says Michele Fabrizi, Chair of Pittsburgh Opera's Board of Directors.

“Christopher built real relationships across this city, and you feel that everywhere in Pittsburgh Opera. Naming this Hall for him is a fitting way to honor what he's meant to this community, and to the people who make opera here every day,” adds Gene Welsh, President of the Board.

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