Orlando Opera has evolved into a major regional opera company with a distinguished artistic reputation. Orlando Opera’s annual subscription series at the 2,400 seat Bob Carr Performing Arts Centre is attended by more than 21,000 people. Orlando Opera has brought world-class singers, conductors, and directors together to create opera magic. Many internationally renowned singers, including Placido Domingo, Beverly Sills, Luciano Pavarotti, Richard Tucker, Jessye Norman, Cecilia Bartoli, Jerry Hadley, Carol Vaness, and Denyce Graves have appeared with Orlando Opera.

Orlando Opera began as a project of the Junior League of Greater Orlando, then operated as the Opera Gala Guild of the Florida Symphony Society, and finally became a professional opera company, incorporating in March of 1979. In 1958, the Junior League of Orlando hosted the first Opera Gala at the Orlando Municipal Auditorium. Robert Merrill, Richard Tucker, Elena Nikolaidi, and Lisa Della Casa performed scenes and arias from some of the world’s best-loved operas. Each year the Junior League presented these opera highlights performed by the top opera stars of the day, until 1963, when it presented its first full production of La Bohème. The outstanding cast included Teresa Stratas and Richard Tucker.

On December 31, 1988, Orlando Opera presented Luciano Pavarotti at the Orange County Convention Center. With an attendance of nearly 11,000 the evening was the largest classical music event in Central Florida history.

www.orlandoopera.org