Caroline Bergan

Chancelor Barbaree

Emily Blair

Chasey Briggs

Marlina Karimi

Sitong Liu

Cecilia McKinley

Alexandria McNeely

Kathryn Riopel

Kellen Schrimper

Opera Birmingham

Back-to-back tales of love, betrayal, and revenge create a dramatic evening of emotional theatre—a powerful double-bill of verismo classics—Pagliacci and Cavalleria Rusticana.

In Cavalleria Rusticana, a soldier returns home to discover the woman he loves has married another. One Easter morning, simmering tensions boil over in a small Sicilian village—with tragic consequences. Then in Pagliacci, a traveling clown must perform while grappling with real-life heartbreak and betrayal. As the lines between stage and reality blur, a shocking finale unfolds before the audience’s eyes.

With sweeping melodies, gripping drama, and raw emotion, this is opera at its most visceral. Join us for a night of love, jealousy, and heartbreak you won’t forget.

Pagliacci/Cavalleria Rusticana

Alabama School of Fine Arts

Opera Birmingham’s annual Vocal Competition is your chance to experience the thrill of opera’s rising stars before they take the world’s biggest stages. For more than 40 years, this prestigious event has drawn top emerging singers from across the country, offering them a platform to shine—and offering you an unforgettable evening of music. Cash prizes are awarded for the top 5 finalists, plus, you have an opportunity to choose your favorite among the ten finalists to win the Audience Favorite Prize. 

Each finalist has been selected through a national audition process and will perform live before a panel of distinguished judges, including opera professionals, agents, and directors. Many past winners have gone on to major careers, and you’ll be able to say you saw them here first!

Opera Birmingham Vocal Competition 2026

B & A Warehouse