Opera Saratoga has announced Mary Birnbaum, who has served as the company’s 10th General and Artistic Director since March 2023, will conclude her tenure in December 2026, with a direct transition to Artistic Advisor beginning on Jan. 1, 2027.

This advisory role will allow Birnbaum to focus a greater portion of her time on directing nationally.

In a statement, Board Chairman Bob Miller said, “It has been a privilege to share Mary with the likes of Lyric Opera of Chicago and the New York Philharmonic during her time with us at Opera Saratoga. While we will miss her transformative leadership at the helm, we’re thrilled that she has agreed to stay on in an advisory capacity and direct future productions.”

Birnbaum added, “I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve built together at Opera Saratoga – a company that’s more financially secure, more artistically ambitious, and more connected to its community than when I arrived. Stepping into an advisory role is a chance to keep supporting this company while devoting more of my time to the national directing work that’s become such a meaningful part of my career. I’m grateful to the board for making this transition possible, and I’m excited to see what’s next for Opera Saratoga.”

During her tenure, Opera Saratoga rebuilt its financial and institutional footing while expanding its artistic ambition. She also increased artistic programming without straining the budget, relaunched the company’s education program, and doubled the capacity of its innovative memory care program, Songs By Heart.