MacLeod has run the New Haven Symphony since 2001. According to Glimmerglass, he is credited with eliminating a debt and posting two consecutive surpluses. Before coming to New Haven, he served as director of the City of London Festival and managing director of John Eliot Gardiner's three ensembles, the Monteverdi Choir, English Baroque Soloists, and Orchestre Revolutionnaire et Romantique.

"After an extensive search, we are most fortunate to have discovered in Michael MacLeod a general director who has not only achieved prior success in such a position, but also possesses a deep understanding of both the American and European opera traditions," said Peter Duchin, chairman of the board of Glimmerglass Opera. "Mr. MacLeod will be a wonderful addition to Glimmerglass Opera, bringing to his position strong leadership skills, a remarkable knowledge of the operatic repertory, and a desire to take Glimmerglass Opera to an even higher level of achievement"

MacLeod added, "I am thrilled to be joining Glimmerglass Opera, and am very much looking forward to collaborating with artistic director Paul Kellogg to support and continue his original artistic vision of producing innovative opera on the very highest level, which has successfully brought Glimmerglass Opera to the attention of an ever-increasing international audience."

Glimmerglass Opera stages several operas each summer at the Alice Busch Opera Theater, on the shores of Otsego Lake—the "Glimmerglass" of James Fenimore Cooper's Leatherstocking Tales. The highly regarded company shares artistic director Paul Kellogg with New York City Opera, and often collaborates on new productions with NYCO. Its 2005 season opens tomorrow.