Rochester Lyric Opera to turn church into performing arts venue

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Rochester will have a new major performing arts venue, the owners announced Wednesday morning. Rochester Lyric Opera Inc. has purchased the former First Church of Christ, Scientist at 440 East Ave. for $1.2 million. The opera group plans to spend an additional $6 million to renovate the 100-year-old landmark structure.
 
“Many opera companies have come and gone in Rochester. I believe if they had a home they may have survived,” said Susan Cotroneo, managing director of Rochester Lyric Opera. “This theater will be our home, and it will also be available for other performers, even national acts, if it is sized right for them.”

Lyric Theatre will be considered a medium capacity venue for Rochester, Cotroneo said, with two separate performance halls. The main hall will seat 900, and an adjacent cabaret-style area will accommodate up to 300 guests.

LaBella Associates DPC is the project architect. The key addition will be an orchestra pit, Cotroneo said. Many of the historic building’s features will be preserved.

Cotroneo declined to disclose details of the financing. The group expects to raise the full amount of funds needed for the project through grants and private gifts.

“We have secured interim financing for the purchase of the building. We are pursuing some grant opportunities and several individuals have expressed interest in financially supporting the project,” she said.

Renovations are set to begin in January with a completion targeted for next summer.

The congregation of the First Church of Christ, Scientist held its last service in the church on Easter. It will be relocating to 701 Mt. Hope Ave. once renovations are complete. For the time-being, the congregation will meet at the New Life Methodist Church at 570 Ridge Road in Webster.

“Our congregation is so delighted to come together with Rochester Lyric Opera to open the door to this fantastic possibility for our city,” said Mark Catlin, chairman of First Church of Christ, Scientist, in a statement. “The beauty and harmony that occurred in this structure as a place of worship for nearly a century can now continue with the beauty and harmony of wonderful musical performances for our community for years to come.”
 
The theater will be open for performances even before renovations begin, with one of its first confirmed events, the Xerox Rochester International Jazz Festival this June, officials said.

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