Indianapolis Opera at a Glance

Indianapolis Opera, founded in 1975, is the only professional opera company in Indiana. The company performs the classic European operas and more recent American works.

Indianapolis Opera has presented 109 operatic productions representing the work of 32 different composers, including 13 composers who wrote in the 20th century.  Selected works range from standard classics to new and/or less-performed works, balancing musical style and language as well as comedy and tragedy.

The company’s reputation for excellence at all levels attracts high-caliber artists from around the nation who enthusiastically co-create memorable performances.  These renowned professionals eagerly travel to Indianapolis to participate in productions where all performers are peers and where music and theatre share equal importance.  They perform with the Indianapolis Opera Chorus and either the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra or the Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra.

IO’s resident company, the Indianapolis Opera Ensemble, consists of five young professional artists who are chosen through national auditions.  In the 2005-06 season, the Ensemble performed over 200 programs, traveling 10,000 miles and reaching more than 50,000 children and adults throughout the Midwest.

Indianapolis Opera is committed to providing lifelong learning opportunities for audiences of all ages and provides many educational programs and events, including MUSIC! WORDS! OPERA!, our innovative in-school arts program.

Indianapolis Opera is a member of OPERA America, Inc., the support organization for professional opera companies.