Mobile Opera is an

opera company Opera is a form of theatre in which music is a fundamental component and dramatic roles are taken by singers. Such a "work" (the literal translation of the Italian word "opera") is typically a collaboration between a composer and a librett ...

located in

Mobile, Alabama Mobile ( , ) is a city and the county seat of Mobile County, Alabama, United States. The population within the city limits was 187,041 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, down from 195,111 at the 2010 United States census, 2010 cens ...

and is one of the oldest

performing arts The performing arts are arts such as music, dance, and drama which are performed for an audience. They are different from the visual arts, which are the use of paint, canvas or various materials to create physical or static art objects. Perform ...

organizations in the United States,Recognized by

OPERA America __NOTOC__ Opera America, styled OPERA America, is a New York-based service organization promoting the creation, presentation, and enjoyment of opera in the United States. Almost all professional opera companies and some semi-professional companies i ...

as the 13th oldest opera company in the United States (source: Mobileopera.org) as well as the oldest in the State of Alabama, having been founded as the "Mobile Opera Guild" in 1945. Under its founder, Madame Rose Palmai-Tenser, a European concert artist from

Czechoslovakia , rue, Чеськословеньско, , yi, טשעכאסלאוואקיי, , common_name = Czechoslovakia , life_span = 1918–19391945–1992 , p1 = Austria-Hungary , image_p1 ...

, two performances were presented in April 1946. As its General Director, Mrs. Tenser continued to lead the company until 1971. In July 2002, Mobile Opera relocated its offices to the Josephine Larkins Music Center, a newly renovated rehearsal and administrative facility located in the designated downtown arts district, which the company shares with the

Mobile Symphony The Mobile Symphony Orchestra is the symphonic orchestra of Mobile, Alabama. Scott Speck is the current music director. Concerts The Mobile Symphony Orchestra holds a 7 concert season from September to May of each year. The season consists of 6 tr ...

. This collaboration between the city's performing arts organizations has been instrumental in the revitalization of the downtown area. With a rehearsal hall, seven private music studios, conference room, catering kitchen, patron ticketing services, landscaped courtyard and administrative offices, the Larkins Music Center is a significant cultural and community asset.

Growth under Katherine Willson and others since 1971

After 1971, Willson became the company's Production Coordinator and General Manager. During the company's 1995/1996 season, she became the first female President of the Board, celebrating Mobile Opera's 50th Anniversary Season and her own thirty-five year involvement with the company. Under Pelham "Pat" Pearce, Mobile Opera maintained its productions' quality and its innovative programs dedicated to education and community outreach. The development of Mobile Opera as a nationally recognized company continued with the ten-year supervision of Jerome Shannon as General Director and conductor. Shannon was succeeded by Earl Jackson who retired in 2011. The company currently operates under the direction of General Director Scott Wright. Mobile Opera continues to encourage young American operatic talent. Artists such as

Christine Weidinger Christine Weidinger (born March 31, 1946) is an American operatic soprano who has had an active international career in operas and concerts since the early 1970s. Her career started at the Metropolitan Opera, after which she was active as a residen ...

, Michael Devlin,

Susan Quittmeyer Susan Louise Quittmeyer (born 1953) is an American mezzo-soprano. Raised in Port Washington, New York, she attended Illinois Wesleyan University, and is a 1978 graduate of the Manhattan School of Music. She created the roles of Hermione in John Ha ...

Anthony Laciura Anthony Laciura (born September 27, 1951) is an American actor and operatic tenor. Laciura is often noted for his abilities as a comprimario, and actor. Born in New Orleans, he studied voice there with Charles Paddock, also the teacher of Ticho ...

Barry McCauley Barry McCauley (June 25, 1950—October 10, 2001) was an American operatic tenor. He sang leading roles with major opera companies throughout the world, including the Metropolitan Opera and the Paris Opera. McCauley was born in Altoona, Pennsylva ...

, Stella Zambalis,

Linda Zoghby Linda Zoghby (born August 17, 1949) is an American operatic soprano. Zoghby was born in Mobile, Alabama, and began her vocal studies under Elena Nikolaidi at Florida State University. Her professional debut came in 1973 at Chicago's Grant Park M ...

, Amy Johnson, Philip Webb,

Hal France Hal France is an American conductor who was the first Music Director of the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra from 2000 to 2006, Executive Director of KANEKO from 2008 to 2012, Artistic Director of the Omaha Opera from 1995 to 2005, and Music Directo ...

and

Sylvia McNair Sylvia McNair (born June 23, 1956) is an American opera singer and classical recitalist who has also achieved notable success in the Broadway and cabaret genres. McNair, a soprano, has made several critically acclaimed recordings and has won tw ...

have made appearances with major opera companies such as the Metropolitan Opera,

New York City Opera The New York City Opera (NYCO) is an American opera company located in Manhattan in New York City. The company has been active from 1943 through 2013 (when it filed for bankruptcy), and again since 2016 when it was revived. The opera company, du ...

Chicago Lyric Opera Lyric Opera of Chicago is one of the leading opera companies in the United States. It was founded in Chicago in 1954, under the name 'Lyric Theatre of Chicago' by Carol Fox, Nicola Rescigno and Lawrence Kelly, with a season that included Maria C ...

San Francisco Opera San Francisco Opera (SFO) is an American opera company founded in 1923 by Gaetano Merola (1881–1953) based in San Francisco, California. History Gaetano Merola (1923–1953) Merola's road to prominence in the Bay Area began in 1906 when he ...

and opera houses and festivals of Europe. Under General Director, Scott Wright, Mobile Opera continues. Andy Anderson has served as Artistic Director and conductor since 2008. In addition to mainstage productions, programs of opera excerpts are presented in schools and community venues throughout the region. Education and Community Outreach, under the direction of Stacey Driskell, produced "Pigaro's Diner" beginning in 2009. This program on child nutrition has been seen by more than 40,000 Alabama school children.

References

External links

Mobile Opera's official website
{{authority control American opera companies Cultural institutions in Mobile, Alabama Musical groups established in 1945 Performing arts in Alabama 1945 establishments in Alabama

Growth under Katherine Willson and others since 1971

See also

References

External links