Mobile Opera
Encyclopedia
Mobile Opera is an opera company located in Mobile, Alabama
and is one of the oldest performing arts
organizations in the United States, as well as the oldest in Mobile itself, having been founded as the "Mobile Opera Guild" in 1945. Under its founder, Madame Rose Palmai-Tenser, a European concert artist from Czechoslovakia
, two performances were presented in April 1946. As its General Director, Mrs. Tenser continued to lead the company until 1971.
The Mobile Opera Guild Auxiliary (the eighth in the nation to be affiliated with the Metropolitan Opera
Guild) was established to recruit volunteer support.
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. This collaboration between the city's performing arts organizations has been instrumental in the revitalization of the downtown area. With a 2400 square feet (223 m²) 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. In Spring 2008, an Education Director was hired in order to enhance current programs as well as creating new educational opportunites. In June 2008, Andy Anderson took over as Artistic Director.
The company continues to encourage young American operatic talent. Artists such as Christine Weidinger
, Michael Devlin, Susan Quittmeyer, Anthony Laciura
, Barry McCauley
, Stella Zambalis, Linda Zoghby, Amy Johnson, Philip Webb, Hal France
and Sylvia McNair
have made appearances with major opera companies such as the Metropolitan Opera, New York City Opera
, Chicago Lyric Opera, San Francisco Opera
and opera houses and festivals of Europe.
Under Executive Director Earl Jackson, Mobile Opera continued its commitment to education and community outreach with programs such as "Artists in Residence", "Teen Night At The Opera", "Opera-UpClose", "Music A La Carte", "Afternoon of Stars", and discount tickets.
Mobile, Alabama
Mobile is the third most populous city in the Southern US state of Alabama and is the county seat of Mobile County. It is located on the Mobile River and the central Gulf Coast of the United States. The population within the city limits was 195,111 during the 2010 census. It is the largest...
and is one of the oldest performing arts
Performing arts
The performing arts are those forms art which differ from the plastic arts insofar as the former uses the artist's own body, face, and presence as a medium, and the latter uses materials such as clay, metal or paint which can be molded or transformed to create some physical art object...
organizations in the United States, as well as the oldest in Mobile itself, having been founded as the "Mobile Opera Guild" in 1945. Under its founder, Madame Rose Palmai-Tenser, a European concert artist from Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
, two performances were presented in April 1946. As its General Director, Mrs. Tenser continued to lead the company until 1971.
The Mobile Opera Guild Auxiliary (the eighth in the nation to be affiliated with the Metropolitan Opera
Metropolitan Opera
The Metropolitan Opera is an opera company, located in New York City. Originally founded in 1880, the company gave its first performance on October 22, 1883. The company is operated by the non-profit Metropolitan Opera Association, with Peter Gelb as general manager...
Guild) was established to recruit volunteer support.
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. This collaboration between the city's performing arts organizations has been instrumental in the revitalization of the downtown area. With a 2400 square feet (223 m²) 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. In Spring 2008, an Education Director was hired in order to enhance current programs as well as creating new educational opportunites. In June 2008, Andy Anderson took over as Artistic Director.
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 company continues to encourage young American operatic talent. Artists such as Christine Weidinger
Christine Weidinger
Christine Weidinger 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 resident artist with opera houses in Germany during the late 1970s and 1980s...
, Michael Devlin, Susan Quittmeyer, Anthony Laciura
Anthony Laciura
Anthony Laciura is an American operatic tenor, noted for his abilities as a comprimario. Born in New Orleans, he studied voice there with Charles Paddock, also the teacher of Ticho Parly....
, Barry McCauley
Barry McCauley
Barry McCauley was an American operatic tenor. He sang leading roles with major opera companies throughout the world, including the Metropolitan Opera and the Paris Opera. In 1980 he was the recipient of the Richard Tucker Award...
, Stella Zambalis, Linda Zoghby, Amy Johnson, Philip Webb, Hal France
Hal France
Hal France was the first musical director of the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra, and was formerly the principal director of the Omaha Opera. He lives in Orlando, Florida. He was formerly married to noted soprano Sylvia McNair.-References:...
and Sylvia McNair
Sylvia McNair
Sylvia McNair 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 two Grammy Awards....
have made appearances with major opera companies such as the Metropolitan Opera, New York City Opera
New York City Opera
The New York City Opera is an American opera company located in New York City.The company, called "the people's opera" by New York Mayor Fiorello La Guardia, was founded in 1943 with the aim of making opera financially accessible to a wide audience, producing an innovative choice of repertory, and...
, Chicago Lyric Opera, San Francisco Opera
San Francisco Opera
San Francisco Opera is an American opera company, based in San Francisco, California.It was founded in 1923 by Gaetano Merola and is the second largest opera company in North America...
and opera houses and festivals of Europe.
Under Executive Director Earl Jackson, Mobile Opera continued its commitment to education and community outreach with programs such as "Artists in Residence", "Teen Night At The Opera", "Opera-UpClose", "Music A La Carte", "Afternoon of Stars", and discount tickets.