(Los Angeles) July 21, 2026 — LA Opera mourns the passing of Bernard A. Greenberg, Founding Board Member, former Chairman, and one of the principal architects of the company. A visionary civic leader, philanthropist and arts advocate, Greenberg devoted more than seven decades to the dream of establishing and sustaining a world-class opera company in Los Angeles.

Long before LA Opera was inaugurated in 1986, Greenberg was among the small group of civic leaders working to bring professional opera to Los Angeles. While still a student at UCLA, he envisioned an opera company for the city and went on to help establish the Los Angeles Civic Grand Opera, serving first as treasurer before guiding the organization through its successive evolutions and ultimately helping lay the foundation for the producing company that became LA Opera.

Greenberg served on LA Opera's Board of Directors for four decades, holding nearly every major leadership position, including Chairman, Chairman of the Executive Committee, President, Executive Vice President and Vice Chairman. Most recently, he held the title of Vice Chairman Emeritus and Founding Board Member.

Together with his wife, Lenore, he was among LA Opera's most generous and transformative philanthropists. Through the Bernard A. and Lenore S. Greenberg Opera Fund, they created an enduring endowment to support ambitious artistic work, while their underwriting made possible many of the company's landmark productions, including Billy Budd, Madama Butterfly, Tannhäuser, Götterdämmerung, Einstein on the Beach, Akhnaten, Satyagraha, Eurydice, Omar, El último sueño de Frida y Diego and Ainadamar.

"If anyone could be called the founder of LA Opera, it is Bernie Greenberg," said Keith R. Leonard, Jr., Chairman of LA Opera's Board of Directors. "For more than 70 years, he devoted his extraordinary wisdom, leadership and generosity to building this company into the institution that serves our audiences today. Bernie believed deeply that opera could enrich lives and strengthen our community, and he worked tirelessly to make that vision a reality. His legacy is woven into every chapter of our history, and all of us at LA Opera are profoundly grateful for his friendship, his guidance and his unwavering commitment to this company."

Beyond LA Opera, Bernie and Lennie Greenberg were celebrated philanthropists whose support transformed the cultural landscape of Los Angeles and beyond. Their generosity benefited organizations including the Los Angeles Philharmonic, The Music Center, the Ojai Music Festival, the Museum of Contemporary Art, the Museum of Modern Art, the National Gallery of Art and the Los Angeles Public Library.

A distinguished attorney, trusted advisor and passionate music lover, Greenberg will be remembered not only for his visionary leadership but also for his integrity, thoughtful counsel and steadfast belief in the power of the arts to enrich civic life.

Bernie Greenberg is survived by his beloved wife as well as their daughters Elizabeth, Katherine and Jane; and their families. The family has held a private service.

LA Opera extends its deepest condolences to the Greenberg family and joins the many artists, audiences, civic leaders and friends whose lives were touched by Bernie's extraordinary generosity, vision and service.

About LA Opera
Los Angeles is a city of enormous diversity and creativity, and LA Opera is dedicated to reflecting that vibrancy by redefining what opera can be. Through imaginative new productions, world premiere commissions, and inventive performances that preserve foundational works while making them feel fresh and compelling, LA Opera has become one of America’s most exciting and ambitious opera companies.

In addition to its mainstage performances at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, each season the company explores works that help shape the future of opera through LA Opera Off Grand, featuring performances in a variety of venues throughout Los Angeles that expand and enrich the operatic repertoire. Learn more at LAOpera.org.

LA Opera Media Contact
Marlene Meraz
Director of Communications
mmeraz@laopera.org
213.972.7554

LA Opera is a nonprofit organization dedicated to serving the greater Los Angeles community.