As a respected part of classical music, opera has a rich tradition that dates back centuries, generally to Jacopo Peris opera "Dafne" in 1597. From France to Italy to England to the United States, many countries have kept this tradition alive through the continued work of their world-renowned opera companies.
By definition, opera is a form of music that incorporates acting, costumes and stage sets to convey drama and evoke some ethos from the audience. As such, opera companies tend to be large organizations that include a wide array of professionals in addition to the talented opera singers you see on stage. Some of the other types of professionals opera companies also must employ to be successful include:
Occasionally, opera companies will go on tour, like bands and ballet companies, to bring their show (or series of operas) to those around the globe. In these cases, opera companies will likely need to expand their staff to include traveling stage hands, seamstresses and public relations professionals to get the word out about the opera in each city in which the opera companies performs.
However, opera companies may not have particular composers, choreographers or orchestras on permanent payroll. Some companies choose to hire these professionals on an "on-contract" basis for a single or finite series of operas the company will be performing.
In this section, we will take a closer look at a few of the most famous opera companies in the world. Our articles will give you a brief historical history of these companies while also relaying what, in particular, makes these opera companies notable. We will also give you specific information on where you can see operas by these companies, as well as how much you can expect to spend on tickets to famous operas.
Established in 1880 by New York Citys "Metropolitan Opera Association," the Metropolitan Opera Company is currently the largest classical music company in the United States. In addition to the nearly 240 shows that the Metropolitan Opera Company performs each year, it is also a primary presenter of Grand Opera, an antiquated type of opera marked by five acts, lavish productions and large casts that center on historical themes.
Also referred to as The Met, the Metropolitan Opera Company primarily resides at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York City. Whether you are looking to be a season ticket holder or simply want to see a specific opera, you can choose from a variety of ticket packages offered by the Metropolitan Opera Company.
Started as the "Covent Garden Opera Company" in 1946, the Royal Opera Company is Englands premier opera company. Because the Covent Garden Opera Company had successfully established itself as a world-renowned performing company within the first 20 years of its establishment, the Queen extended this company the "Royal" status in 1968.
In addition to being the wealthiest opera company in the United Kingdom, the Royal Opera Company is also generally the most respected, as it performs a variety of modern and traditional operas in the original languages in which they were meant to be performed.
To successfully stage and perform each opera, the Royal Opera Company relies on a permanent symphony orchestra, as well as the Royal Opera Chorus and the Royal Ballet. Similarly, a variety of other dramatic and musical professionals, ranging from conductors to stage directors, is included in the permanent staff of the Royal Opera Company.
The Royal Opera (2007). A World Stage. Retrieved December 10, 2007 from the Royal Opera Web site: http://info.royaloperahouse.org/Opera/.
The Metropolitan Opera (2007). The Met. Retrieved December 10, 2007 from the Metropolitan Opera Web site: http://www.metoperafamily.org/metopera/.