Opera Birmingham

Opera Birmingham is a professional opera company which stages full operatic productions in Birmingham, along with concerts and recitals featuring classical vocal performance, and an annual competition for amateur singers.

The group is an affiliate of the New York-based Opera America. Its offices are located at 3601 6th Avenue South in Lakeview.

The company traces its history to the founding of the Birmingham Civic Opera Association in 1955. That group merged with the Southern Regional Opera to form the Birmingham Opera Theater in 1986. It adopted its present name in 1996.

In addition to classic opera repertoire, Opera Birmingham stages contemporary works. In 2023–2024 it commissioned and produced the world premiere of "Touch", an opera about Helen Keller's evolving relationship with her tutor, Anne Sullivan, in adulthood. The work was composed by Carla Lucero to a libretto by Lucero and Marianna Mott Neworth. In connection with that production, the company was awarded a grant from Opera America to develop and provide expanded accessibility for hearing-impaired and vision-impaired performers and audience members.

The organization listed its 2,375 square-foot office building for sale in 2024.

Managing directors

• Keith Wolfe-Hughes, 2015–2024
• Lynne Hutton, 2024–

References

• "OPERA America Awards $180,000 In Civic Practice Grants To Eight U.S. Professional Company Members." (March 1, 2023) Opera America press release
• Shelton, Kelsey (January 20, 2024) "New Opera Delves Into Less Familiar Part of Helen Keller’s Story." BirminghamWatch
• Dyos, Stuart (June 13, 2024) "Bham nonprofit selling Southside property, new director tapped." Birmingham Business Journal

External links

• Opera Birmingham website