Steve, WSO member and world traveler for Opera was in Bayreuth, Germany in August, 2011. On October 1, he will entertain WSO with his superb slides, ecstatic experience, and the delight of Bayreuth. Steve has written reviews of Opera for several publications and given several programs on opera and singers.

Steve Charitan at Bayreuth

Steve Charitan

A native of Hudson, Ohio, Steve Charitan experienced his first live opera, "Boris Godunov" at age 16. As a history major in college his operatic preferences followed works with a historical or legendary setting such as "Les Troyens," "Giulio Cesare,"Aida," "Clemenza di Tito," "Anna Bolena." Wagner had always been part of his experience palate from the beginning, but only in bits and pieces - the Liebestod, Wotan's farewell, the Prize song, etc. It was when he entered his 40's that Wagner's works (and those of R. Strauss) came together as a "whole" and now form the core of his operatic interests.

Steve also collects recordings of singers past and present in a variety of formats from Cylinders to CDs. Old records often sound best on old technology and Steve has a collection of working Victor and Edison phonographs from the early years of the last century to summon up those great voices from the Golden years.