Opera Cleveland
| Company type | Non-profit organization |
|---|---|
| Industry | Opera company |
| Founded | March 1976 |
| Founder | David Bamberger, Carola Bamberger, John D. Heavenrich |
| Defunct | 2010 |
| Fate | Merged with Lyric Opera Cleveland to form Opera Cleveland; closed in 2010 |
| Headquarters | Cleveland , United States |
Key people | David Bamberger (General Director until 2004), Carola Bamberger (Associate Director) |
| Products | Opera productions, musical theatre productions, education and outreach programs |
Cleveland Opera was an opera organization located in Cleveland, Ohio.
History
Founded in March 1976 by David Bamberger, Carola Bamberger, and John D. Heavenrich, the company premiered its inaugural season in October of the same year with sold-out performances of Puccini's Madama Butterfly and Rossini's The Barber of Seville. By 1984, it had established itself as the resident opera company at Playhouse Square, staging productions at the State Theater. The organization played a significant role in the revival of Cleveland's historic Theater District and actively promoted improved accessibility for patrons with physical disabilities. Musicians frequently performed across Cleveland Opera, Cleveland Ballet, and Ohio Chamber Orchestra, creating a beneficial synergy among the three ensembles.
From 1976 until 2004, David Bamberger held the position of General Director while Carola Bamberger served as Associate Director. Throughout their tenure, Cleveland Opera mounted 122 complete productions featuring 74 distinct works by 43 composers, ranging from Monteverdi to modern compositions. The company attracted distinguished performers including Roberta Peters, Jerome Hines, and Sherrill Milnes, and hosted concert appearances by internationally acclaimed artists such as Plácido Domingo, Luciano Pavarotti, and José Carreras.
In addition to operas and operettas, the company produced well-known musical theatre works like West Side Story, Man of La Mancha, and My Fair Lady. It earned global recognition by commissioning and premiering Holy Blood and Crescent Moon, an opera composed by Stewart Copeland of "The Police". Cleveland Opera was also noted for its comprehensive education and outreach program titled “Cleveland Opera on Tour,” and held membership in OPERA America, a national organization dedicated to fostering opera growth throughout North America.
Opera Cleveland
Following David Bamberger's exit, financial difficulties undermined the company's stability. It subsequently merged with Lyric Opera Cleveland—a summer-oriented but financially troubled group—to form Opera Cleveland, which presented its debut production in April 2007. Unfortunately, persistent management challenges resulted in the organization's closure by fall 2010.
Similar Names
In subsequent years, two smaller Cleveland-based opera companies adopted names incorporating "Cleveland Opera." In 2014, "Opera per tutti" changed its name to "Cleveland Opera Theater," while in 2017, "Opera Circle" rebranded as "The Cleveland Opera." Neither entity maintains any connection with the original Cleveland Opera company.