"I have enjoyed working with the board and staff at Opera Cleveland," Major said in a statement. "Over the past few months, as the artistic committee has begun to define Opera Cleveland's future, I find my vision for Opera Cleveland diverges from that of the committee. I applaud the enthusiasm which brought about the birth of this new company and I wish it only great success."

Major was artistic advisor of Cleveland Opera, one of Opera Cleveland's predecessor organizations. Now preparing its debut season, the 2007 lineup of Opera Cleveland (created in April 2006 by a merger between Cleveland Opera and Lyric Opera Cleveland) features Salome (April 20 _28), La traviata (June 13 _24), The Turn of the Screw (July 11 _22), A Little Night Music (August 8 _19) and Tosca (October 19 _27).

More information about the company and its productions can be found at www.operacleveland.org.