Sound carries well over water, and next July Opera Theater of Pittsburgh will cross the pond to become the first American opera company to perform at the Royal Opera House in London.

The company will produce Philip Glass' "Sound of a Voice," July 10 through 13, 2008, in the Royal Opera House's Linbury Studio Theatre. The relatively new, 400-seat space is part of the historic complex at Covent Garden. The production, first staged April 26-29 at The Andy Warhol Museum, will mark the chamber opera's European premiere.

"We are tremendously proud," said Opera Theater artistic director Jonathan Eaton.

"This will be a special opportunity for U.K. audiences to experience ... this rarely heard Philip Glass composition produced by this highly regarded American opera company," said Alison Duthie, head of arts programming for the Linbury theater.

With a set designed by Kathleen Mulcahy and Ron Desmett, founders of the Pittsburgh Glass Center, Eaton says "Sound of a Voice" is "the only product of the 'Pittsburgh Year of Glass' that will get an international platform." Eaton will again direct the Opera Theater cast of Janice Felty, Suzan Hanson and brothers Herbert and Eugene Perry.

The Royal Opera is paying Opera Theater a fee for the production and a portion of the box-office take, but the local company initially needed to raise $250,000. "We have already raised enough to sign on the dotted line, but we are still looking for significant corporate sponsors," Eaton said.

Ultimately Eaton, who was educated in England and who directed "I Puritani" at Covent Garden in 1992, feels the effort is worth it: "We think this will bring new interest to the company and will be the first of a number of tours to top international venues."