 William Guard was hired to be the company's press representative, remaining in that capacity until the organization folded.The Manhattan Opera Company opened its first season on December 3, 1906, with a performance of Vincenzo Bellini's "Norma"; Cleofonte Campanini served as the artistic director.Many of the greatest opera stars of the era appeared with the company during its four-year history; among the most notable were Nellie Melba, Lillian Nordica, Luisa Tetrazzini, Ernestine Schumann-Heink, Giovanni Zenatello, Lina Cavalieri, Mary Garden, John McCormack, Lalla Miranda, Alessandro Bonci, Charles Dalmorès, Giovanni Polese, Maurice Renard, Alice Zeppilli, and Nicola Zerola.