Sarah Caldwell

Sarah Caldwell (1924–2006) was a renowned American opera conductor, impresario, and stage director. Born in Maryville, Missouri, she founded the Opera Company of Boston in 1957, where she staged and conducted innovative productions, often highlighting obscure and challenging works. In 1976, she made history as the first woman to conduct at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City, leading a production of Verdi’s “La Traviata.”