Now rebranded as National Opera, the organisation will be relaunched with its new name on February 6. This year's production will be announced and the new artistic director will be introduced. He is international opera singer Peter Coleman-Wright - whose long career includes performances in Britain, Europe and North America as well as Australia. He's performed at the English National Opera, Covent Garden. the Metropolitan Opera and Opera Australia, among other venues, in a wide variety of roles. He is married to soprano Cheryl Barker, who has also had a distinguished opera career.

General manager and performer Stephanie McAlister says the 2020 opera production will be mounted in December. While she won't reveal its title, she says the opera was last performed in Australia in 2010.

Previous productions by the company include Mascagni's Cavalleria Rusticana and Puccini's Gianni Schicci, presented as a double bill last year.

She says the name change will not affect National Opera's Canberra focus - because of the company structure they are not allowed to perform outside the ACT - and wherever possible they will use Canberra talent. The company has always been not-for-profit and a registered charity, she says, but is now in the process of applying for gift-recipient status so donations can be tax-deductible.

"The process can take up to three years."

Although the company's shows have been produced "on a shoestring" she says a gift of over $500,000 from Canberra opera enthusiast John Drabble, who died in 2018.

"It was enough to set us up for the future."

Part of looking ahead was inviting Coleman-Wright to reinvigorate things and help develop a professional, collaborative and inclusive company. A few names were discussed for the rebranded company including National Capital Opera - "too close to the [National Capital] Orchestra".

McAlister says Cole-Wright wanted a new name for the company as part of a fresh start under his leadership, she says.

Colewright-Wright says, "I've always wanted to go into artistic direction" and says with National Opera, there will be a process of "reforming and restructuring" to transform what has been "very much an amateur company".

The aim, he says, is "to do something more constructive and more professional", in order to put on higher-quality productions and to help performers pursue further opportunities.

"They need experience if they're going to have a career."

The aim, eventually, is to mount fully professional productions where everyone is paid.

Coleman-Wright has also become guest artistic director of Pacific Opera in Sydney, a company that provides training and performance opportunities for young artists to help them develop in the international operatic world. There may be some crossover between the Canberra and Sydney companies.

He says the reaction to his taking up the position at National Opera "so far has been phenomenally successful.

"People are really coming on board and being sympathetic."

While there will only be one production this year. Coleman-Wright says he will also conduct master classes.

National Opera was founded as Canberra Opera Workshop in 2011 by David and Margaret Reedy. In 2013 it became an incorporated association and developed independently. Now that Canberra Opera has become National Opera, it will begin a new stage in its development.