Graham Vick
Sir Graham Vick (1953–2021) was an English opera director known for bold, modern stagings. He was born in Birkenhead and studied at the Royal Northern College of Music. At 24, he directed Holst’s Savitri for Scottish Opera and later became their director of productions. From 1994 to 2000, he served as director of productions at Glyndebourne Opera. In 1987, he founded the Birmingham Opera Company and led it as artistic director, bringing new energy to regional opera.
Vick’s Birmingham productions included the first UK performance of Othello with a black tenor in the title role (2009) and the 2012 world premiere of Stockhausen’s Mittwoch aus Licht.
He died in London on 17 July 2021 from complications related to COVID-19, aged 67.
He received several honors, including Knight of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres; honorary Professor of Music at the University of Birmingham; International Chair of Opera at the Royal Northern College of Music; and Honorary Membership of the Royal Philharmonic Society (2016). He was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 2009 and was knighted in the 2021 New Year Honours for services to music and the regions. The National Portrait Gallery acquired a portrait of him in 2005. Some of his productions are available on DVD, such as Lulu (Glyndebourne, 2004) and Falstaff (Covent Garden, 2001).
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 06:27 (CET).