About Art City Opera

Philadelphia’s Second Company

Building upon a rich tradition of major cities with thriving “second opera companies,” Art City Opera is founded on the fundamental belief that artists are the lifeblood of the operatic form – in short, without artists, the genre withers.  In a city like Philadelphia, whose identity rests on its flourishing cultural institutions, we felt it only natural to harness the incredible resources living just next door and create an environment for them to thrive.

Our goal is to build a company that provides opportunities for local performers and composers alike to share the talents they have spent a lifetime honing by sustainably creating musical art at its highest level.  To do this, we must change the traditional paradigm for how opera is produced by placing our artists’ wellbeing at the forefront of our efforts.  By ensuring that they receive a living wage that appropriately reflects the amount of time and specialized skill necessary to prepare their roles and perform, Art City Opera promotes an environment that places a high valuation on the cultural collateral that we bring to the public – and, in turn, audiences reap the benefits.

While it sounds simple on the surface, many artists in today’s industry are not frequently promised these basic needs, and a living wage at a professional company does not come standard with every contract regardless of the production value.  In this way, Art City Opera seeks to fill this void in an effort to uplift the artists and, by extension, the operatic genre as well.

In short, when artists are supported, respected, and given an opportunity to explore and push the envelope in a safe environment, they produce transcendent art.  When art is transcendent, audiences feel a connection to something higher than themselves.  Art City Opera seeks to foster that environment and serve as the link between great art and passionate audiences.

Our Programming

We strive to program material that spans the full length of classical vocal repertoire, from the mainstays and classics that have defined the genre for centuries through emergent pieces being written now to reflect modern society.  Through a varied season of recitals, blackbox performances, workshops of new pieces, and presentations of fully-staged masterworks, we are breathing new life into an art form that continues to evolve while taking on the mantle of ensuring its ongoing relevance, success, and enjoyment for audiences of longtime admirers and operatic newcomers alike.