Opera Memphis

Our mission is to entertain and inspire the people of Memphis and the Mid-South through the art of opera. Our vision is to be a model of artistic integrity, musical excellence, and community involvement. Our values are to respect the music, respect the story, respect the artists, and respect the audience.

Opera Memphis was founded in 1956 and has since grown into a world-class opera company. Widely respected for its innovative approach to outreach and audience development, Opera Memphis has become a nationally recognized thought leader on the process of evolving to meet the needs of 21st-century audiences.

Opera Memphis was established in 1956, and since then has staged over 200 productions of more than 75 operas including numerous regional and world premieres. Our mainstage productions feature world-class singers, the Memphis Symphony Orchestra, and other local arts partners, reaching thousands every year.  As the only opera company for hours in any direction, we draw attendees from five states, and seek to serve all within this large swath of the country as well as we can.

In September 2012, OM greatly expanded its mission with the launch of “30 Days of Opera”, a month-long event that exists “outside the walls of the opera house”.  It brings opera into the everyday routines of Memphians – at farmers markets, restaurants, outdoor festivals, libraries, and street corners. It is the company’s primary vehicle for pursuing cultural equity and an expanded civic footprint

Each season, #30Days presents over 70 free events in over 50 locations, reaching nearly 40,000 individuals. Since 2012, #30Days has given nearly 500 free performances in every zip code in Memphis, and reached over 300,000 people,  most of them new to opera.

In 2017, OM launched The McCleave Project, named for African-American soprano and Memphis icon Florence Cole Talbert-McCleave (1890-1961). A collection of initiatives aimed at opening up new avenues of engagement with people of color, the work done and lessons learned inform everything we do, and led directly to the production for which we request funding.

In addition to our mainstage season and #30Days, Opera Memphis offers a variety of educational programs throughout the year. These activities include performances at local schools, hospitals, and community organizations.