LONDON — Graham Vick, a British director who founded Birmingham Opera Company and worked in opera houses around the world, has died of complications from COVID-19. He was 67.

Birmingham Opera said it was “devastated to announce” that Vick, its artistic director, died Saturday.

Born in Birkenhead in northwest England in 1953, Vick was a champion of taking opera to the people. As director of productions at Scottish Opera in the 1980s, he toured productions to remote communities. After setting up a company in England’s second city, Birmingham, in 1987, he staged operas in nontraditional venues including factories, warehouses and nightclubs. Vick was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II earlier this year.

By Associated Press