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Madison Opera

Madison Opera was born in 1961 as a child of the Madison Symphony Orchestra. Along with the musical leadership of then-MSO Musical Director, Roland Johnson, stage director/singer Arline Johnson energized Madison's singers and music lovers to bring Madison Opera into existence.

The Opera is now considered to be among the top regional companies in the US, producing two major operas annually, a free operatic event in the summer, and plans for expanding its season in the future. The production history boasts an amazing breadth of repertoire, including a commissioned world premiere in 1993 and a co-commission Midwest premiere in 2005. Madison Opera now regularly presents singers known throughout the world's leading opera houses.

Ever eager to broaden the audience for opera, Madison Opera has garnered significant recognition from its annual Student Matinee, popular student ticket discount program, Opera in the Park (2005 audience reached over 10,000), and its new initiative, Opera Up Close.

An Overture Center resident company.

This Season


Past Productions