Detroit Opera

Detroit Opera got its start in 1961 as the educational outreach arm, Overture to Opera (OTO), of the Detroit Grand Opera Association, the organization responsible for the Metropolitan Opera's visits to Detroit.{{Cite web |last=Detroit Opera House |date=2021-06-01 |title=Overture to Opera - The Birth of MOT |url=https://detroitopera.org/overture-to-opera-the-birth-of-mot/ |access-date=2024-07-31 |website=Detroit Opera |language=en-US}}

In 1963, Michigan Opera Theatre's (MOT) Founder and General Director, David DiChiera took over the program, then in its third year. OTO first presented opera to the public as a collection of scenes and acts. It did not produce its first full-length production until 1970, with the staging of The Barber of Seville at the Detroit Institute of Arts. OTO transformed into a professional opera company after establishing a board of trustees in 1971, and in 1973, the company officially changed its name to Michigan Opera Theatre.{{Cite web |title=The History of Michigan Opera Theatre/Detroit Opera |url=https://detroitopera.org/about-us/company-history/ |access-date=2024-07-31 |website=Detroit Opera |language=en-US}} 1977 marked the founding of MOT's Department of Community Programs by Karen VanderKloot DiChiera.[http://www.pridesource.com/article.html?article=17481 Curtain Calls Online: News from the World of Professional Theatre: National Opera Associations Honors MOT with two awards] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110727151500/http://www.pridesource.com/article.html?article=17481 |date=2011-07-27 }} February 9, 2006. Between the Lines, Livonia, Michigan. Accessed May 4, 2010. The company became known for its casting which often featured a blend of established artists as well as young-up-and-coming American opera singers from a diversity of backgrounds, a tradition that continues to this day. The company was among the first to stage Gershwin's opera Porgy and Bess in 1975 as well as Scott Joplin's opera Treemonisha in 1983.

MOT also established an international reputation for the staging of rarely performed operas such as the North American premiere of Armenian composer, Armen Tigranian's, Anoush in 1981,[https://www.nytimes.com/1981/11/02/arts/opera-anoush-classic-of-armenia-in-detroit.html Opera: "Anoush," Classic of Armenia in Detroit] The New York Times Accessed 25 April 2010. Stanisław Moniuszko's The Haunted Castle in 1982, and Polish composer Karol Szymanowski's King Roger in 1991.

In 1989 the decision was made to purchase MOT's current home, the Detroit Opera House.[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=p0YxAAAAIBAJ&sjid=fQMEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6716,7179161&dq=detroit+opera+house&hl=en Grand Circus Theatre] October 23, 1994. The Blade, Toledo. Accessed May 4, 2010. Originally called the Capitol Theatre, the building, designed by C. Howard Crane, was in need of extensive restoration. The company eventually gained enough money to purchase the entire block encompassing the neighboring Roberts Fur building, which the company demolished in 1993 to make way for the {{convert|75000|sqft|m2|adj=on}} stage house. The monumental task which became known as "The Detroit Opera House Project" took approximately 7 years to complete and was supported by local individuals, corporations, foundations and unions. Luciano Pavarotti was also a major contributor to the campaign, bringing the attention of the public to the project at large by promising to sing at the opening of the new opera house, donating large amounts of money to the cause, and by making various appearances around Detroit in performances designed to raise money for the project.[http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=DDNB&p_theme=ddnb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0F504FD82EE17648&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM Opera Star Pavarotti Plans Detroit Visit] Dayton Daily News May 21, 1991. Accessed 25 April 2010.{{Cite web |date=1996-04-01 |title=PROGRAM: Bravo 1996 April Gala concert for the opening of the Detroit Opera House by Detroit Opera - Issuu |url=https://issuu.com/detroitopera/docs/bravo_1996_april_gala_concert_for_the_opening_of_t |access-date=2024-07-31 |website=issuu.com |language=en}}

In April 1996, MOT celebrated the opening of its new home with a gala event which received international coverage. Among the guests at the gala were opera stars Joan Sutherland, Luciano Pavarotti, Irina Mishura, Helen Donath, Marcello Giordani, Gregg Baker, Alessandra Marc, and Elizabeth Parcells, conductor Steven Mercurio, and actor Roddy McDowall.[https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=110&dat=19960422&id=T8IoAAAAIBAJ&sjid=TVUDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5185,1863801 Detroit Opera House Opens with Pavarotti] Ludington Daily News Accessed 25 April 2010. The evening also featured a Fanfare for the Detroit Opera House by American composer William Bolcom which had been especially commissioned for the Gala. In 1996 MOT also added a permanent dance season to its repertoire with performances by the American Ballet Theatre and the Cleveland San Jose Ballet.

In 2005, the company staged the world premiere of Richard Danielpour’s Margaret Garner, based on Toni Morrison’s novel Beloved.  

In 2014, founder and longtime General Director DiChiera stepped down as president and CEO and became artistic director. Wayne S. Brown became president and CEO in 2014. DiChiera retired as artistic director in 2017.

During Brown’s tenure, the opera company focused increasingly on producing operas that reached diverse audiences residing in and around the city of Detroit, such as Robert Xavier Rodriguez’s Frida and Mieczysław Weinberg's The Passenger in 2015, and Daniel Sonenberg's The Summer King in 2018.{{Cite web |last=King |first=R. J. |date=2023-04-21 |title=Detroit Opera President and CEO Wayne S. Brown to Step Down |url=https://www.dbusiness.com/daily-news/detroit-opera-president-and-ceo-wayne-s-brown-to-step-down/ |access-date=2024-07-31 |website=DBusiness Magazine |language=en-US}} He also oversaw the rebranding to Detroit Opera in 2022.

Brown oversaw the recruitment of Yuval Sharon as artistic director in 2020.  

Sharon’s tenure began as operas were closing their doors nationwide in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. In October 2020, the company produced Twilight: Gods, an adaptation of Wagner’s Götterdämmerung that was performed in Detroit Opera House Parking Center. In 2021, the company produced Anthony Davis’ X: The Life and Times of Malcolm X, which marked its first revival since its 1986 premiere. Innovative opera productions have included La bohème in 2022, which presented Puccini’s four-act opera in reverse order, and The Valkyries, which staged Wagner’s Die Walküre with 3D computer graphics alongside live performance. In 2023, Brown was inducted into Opera America’s Opera Hall of Fame.{{Cite web |title=OPERA America Announces 2023 Opera Hall of Fame Inductees |url=https://www.operaamerica.org/get-involved/about-us/press-room/2023/opera-america-announces-2023-opera-hall-of-fame-inductees/ |access-date=2024-07-31 |website=Opera America |language=en-us}}

Since January 2024, Patty Isacson Sabee has served as Detroit Opera’s president and CEO. Yuval Sharon continues to serve as artistic director.

Before Detroit Opera House opened in 1996, several Detroit performing arts venues were home to company productions. With the move to the Music Hall Center for the Performing Arts in 1971,[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Kj0pAAAAIBAJ&sjid=3WUFAAAAIBAJ&pg=2582,3725294&dq=opera+music+hall+detroit&hl=en Opera Fills Need in Detroit Area] The Lewiston Daily Sun. November 23, 1976. Accessed May 4, 2010 Detroit Opera helped regenerate Detroit's Entertainment District. Still operating as Overture to Opera the company saved the Music Hall from demolition in 1971 and staged its first season there with productions of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and Puccini's La rondine. Besides the Music Hall, Detroit Opera has staged productions at the Detroit Masonic Temple Theatre and the Fisher Theatre. In the 1984 spring season the company moved to the Masonic Temple to accommodate larger audiences and bigger productions, such as its first production, Anna Bolena, starring Joan Sutherland.[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=_Q0VAAAAIBAJ&sjid=wgIEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5164,2795134&dq=opera+masonic+temple+theatre+detroit&hl=en Out of Town: Detroit] The Blade. May 31, 1984. Accessed May 4, 2010. The production also featured the American Midwest premiere of English surtitles. In 1985 the company moved to The Fisher Theatre for its autumn season and staged West Side Story which received an extended run and became one of Michigan Opera Theatres top grossing productions.[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=V3oUAAAAIBAJ&sjid=1QIEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6888,874468&dq=west+side+story+fisher+theatre+detroit&hl=en 'Torch Bearers' To Open Repertoire Theatre Season: Backstage Notes] The Blade. Toledo. August 20, 1985. Accessed May 4, 2010

Since acquiring the Detroit Opera House, the company has presented opera and dance at several other venues such as the Macomb Center for the Performing Arts, Meadow Brook Amphitheatre, The Aretha Franklin Amphitheatre, and Gem Theatre.

Detroit Opera's Department of Community Programs (now called Education and Community Programs) was founded by Karen Vanderkloot DiChiera in 1977. In 2000, the department was awarded the Success in Education Award by Opera America for its summer programming for local children.{{Cite web |date=2000-09-01 |title=PROGRAM: Bravo 2000 Fall Opera and Dance by Detroit Opera - Issuu |url=https://issuu.com/detroitopera/docs/bravo_2000_fall_opera_and_dance |access-date=2024-07-31 |website=issuu.com |language=en}} The department also performs at local schools, churches and community groups.{{cite news| url=http://www.pridesource.com/article.html?article=17481| title=Curtain Calls Online: News from the World of Professional Theatre: National Opera Associations Honors MOT with two awards| last=Quinn| first=John| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110727151500/http://www.pridesource.com/article.html?article=17481| archive-date=2011-07-27| date=February 9, 2006| newspaper=Between the Lines| location=Livonia| access-date=April 27, 2022}} The Detroit Opera Youth Chorus trains young local vocalists for ensemble and mainstage productions. Additionally, Detroit Opera has premiered many children's operas. They include Vigilance (1975); Pete, the Pirate (1977); Look to the Land (1978); Under One Roof (1981); and Nanabush (1987){{Cite book |last=Lentz |first=Timothy Paul |title=Michigan Opera Theatre: The DiChiera Legacy |year=2018 |pages=122}}[http://www.operaamerica.org/applications/ofyd/details.aspx?id=30 Nanabush, The Great Lakes Indian Hero]. Opera America: Opera For Youth. Accessed May 5, 2010. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180104192306/https://www.operaamerica.org/applications/ofyd/details.aspx?id=30 |date=January 4, 2018 }} which were composed by Karen V. DiChiera, and Summer Snow which was composed by Fred Rogers of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood.{{Cite news |last=Bennett |first=Ray |date=June 11, 1976 |title=Such a friendly neighborhood |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CEQ_AAAAIBAJ&dq=summer+snow+fred+rogers&pg=PA21&article_id=790,3966752 |work=The Windsor Star |pages=21}}

The Margo V. Cohen Center for Dance was founded in 2001 by Dr. Carol Halsted as Director of Dance. The Center, which is also a component of Detroit Opera's community programming, is located within the Ford Center for Learning. It hosts the company's Dance Film series and hosted the American Ballet Theatre summer intensive program.{{cite news| url=http://www.pridesource.com/article.html?article=8486| title=Art & Around: See the ballet stars of the future today at the Detroit Opera House| first= Donald V.| last=Calamia| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110929220756/http://www.pridesource.com/article.html?article=8486| archive-date=2011-09-29| newspaper=Between the Lines| location=Livonia| date=July 8, 2004| access-date=May 10, 2010}} The center also hosts year-round master classes for beginning to advanced dance students and dance auditions are also held at the center.

Since 1979, Detroit Opera has supported early-career opera professionals through a year-long apprenticeship program. Since 2022, the program has been known as the Detroit Opera Resident Artist Program and is supported by a tribute fund for former President and CEO Wayne S. Brown.{{Cite web |date=2024-04-30 |title=PROGRAM: The Cunning Little Vixen by Detroit Opera - Issuu |url=https://issuu.com/detroitopera/docs/do_pr_clv-program_pages |access-date=2024-07-31 |website=issuu.com |language=en}}

The Detroit Opera Archive and Resource Library is the official library and archive for Detroit Opera. It specializes in research materials specific to dance, opera and the company's extensive history. The library was made created in 2007 with a gift from Robert and Maggie Allesee.{{Cite web |title=Detroit Opera Archive and Resource Library |url=https://detroitopera.org/learn/resource-library/ |access-date=2024-07-31 |website=Detroit Opera |language=en-US}} The library and archive center carries books, scores, CDs, videos and hundreds of unique items such as photos and performance reviews from company productions. From 2009-2023, the Resource Library's catalogue publicly available online through a unique partnership with Wayne State University's School of Library and Information Science.[https://sis.wayne.edu/news/michigan-opera-theatres-library-now-online-with-the-help-of-slis-35775 "Michigan Opera Theatre's Library Now Online with the Help of SLIS"]. Wayne State University: School of Library and Information Science: News and Announcements Archive. November 5, 2009. Accessed May 10, 2010.

Notable productions have included:

• 1979: MOT's production of The Most Happy Fella which traveled to Broadway.[http://www.ibdb.com/production.php?id=3814 "The Most Happy Fella"]. Internet Broadway Database. Accessed May 17, 2010
• 1984: Donizetti's Anna Bolena featuring Australian soprano Dame Joan Sutherland. This was the first appearance in the Midwest of surtitle translations.[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=_Q0VAAAAIBAJ&sjid=wgIEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5164,2795134&dq=anna+bolena+1984+michigan+opera+theatre&hl=en "Out of Town: Detroit"]. The Blade. Toledo. May 31, 1984. Accessed May 17, 2010.
• 1988: Puccini's La bohème, featuring Russian tenor Vyacheslav Polozov's.
• 1999: Massenet's Werther, featuring Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli's North American opera debut, with American mezzo Denyce Graves. The production’s final performance was webcast by Global Music Network.[https://archive.today/20130131212130/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost/access/45971798.html?dids=45971798:45971798&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Nov+01,+1999&author=Nancy+Malitz&pub=The+Washington+Post&desc=Finding+His+Way+in+'Werther';+Andrea+Bocelli's+Tentative+Debut&pqatl=google "Finding His Way in Werther; Andrea Bocelli's Tentative debut"], The Washington Post. November 1, 1999. Accessed May 23, 2010.{{dead link|date=April 2022}}
• 2002: First MOT production of Too Hot to Handel, the beginning of a tradition.{{Cite web |date=2002-09-01 |title=PROGRAM: Bravo 2002-03 Winter Opera and Dance by Detroit Opera - Issuu |url=https://issuu.com/detroitopera/docs/bravo_2002-03_winter_opera_and_dance |access-date=2024-07-31 |website=issuu.com |language=en}}
• 2005: Grammy Award winner Richard Danielpour's Margaret Garner world premiere, from a libretto by Nobel Prize winning author Toni Morrison{{cite news |first=Anastasia |last=Tsioulcas |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-133906165.html |title=Margaret Garner Gets National Buzz |newspaper=The Cincinnati Post |date=July 8, 2005 |access-date=April 27, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121104033917/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-133906165.html |archive-date=4 November 2012 |url-status=dead}}
• 2007: MOT's general director Dr. David DiChiera's Cyrano in its world premiere. The libretto was by Bernard Uzan.{{cite news| first=D. A.| last=Blackburn| url=http://www.pridesource.com/article.html?article=27233| title=Opera impresario to debut new work at Michigan Opera Theatre| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110929220816/http://www.pridesource.com/article.html?article=27233| archive-date=2011-09-29| newspaper=Between the Lines| location=Livonia| date=October 4, 2007| access-date=April 27, 2022}}
• 2014: Strauss’ Elektra, featuring American soprano Christine Goerke.{{Cite web |last=Stryker |first=Mark |title=Detroit coup: Christine Goerke stars in MOT's 'Elektra' |url=https://www.freep.com/story/entertainment/music/2014/10/15/chrstine-goerke-elektra-strauss-detroit/17263999/ |access-date=2024-07-31 |website=Detroit Free Press |language=en-US}}
• 2015: Robert Xavier Rodriguez’s Frida, featuring Catalina Cuervo.{{Cite web |last=Feighan |first=Maureen |title='Frida' returns to Detroit in fiery opera. Soprano just wants to do her 'justice' |url=https://www.detroitnews.com/story/entertainment/2022/02/18/frida-returns-detroit-michigan-opera-theatre-catalina-cuervo/6787814001/ |access-date=2024-07-31 |website=The Detroit News |language=en-US}}
• 2015: Weinberg’s The Passenger.{{Cite web |last=Stryker |first=Mark |title=MOT's 'Passenger' is a nightmare journey into the past |url=https://www.freep.com/story/entertainment/arts/mark-stryker/2015/11/19/mot-opera-weinberg-passenger/75945618/ |access-date=2024-07-31 |website=Detroit Free Press |language=en-US}}
• 2016: Aaron Copland’s The Tender Land, an anchor work for MOT’s resident artists.{{Cite web |date=2016-12-15 |title=Michigan Opera Theatre Concludes 2015-16 Season with Surplus, Milestones |url=https://pridesource.com/article/79333-2 |access-date=2024-07-31 |website=Pride Source |language=en}}
• 2016: Kevin Puts’ Silent Night.{{Cite web |last=Stryker |first=Mark |title='Silent Night': An opera of war and surprising peace comes to Detroit |url=https://www.freep.com/story/entertainment/music/2016/11/09/puts-silent-night-mot/93113574/ |access-date=2024-07-31 |website=Detroit Free Press |language=en-US}}
• 2017: Mark Adamo’s Little Women.{{Cite web |last=Stryker |first=Mark |title=What's new? MOT explores contemporary opera in 2016-17 |url=https://www.freep.com/story/entertainment/music/2016/03/29/mot-46-season-opera/82385636/ |access-date=2024-07-31 |website=Detroit Free Press |language=en-US}}
• 2018: Ricky Ian Gordon’s 27, cast exclusively with MOT’s resident artists.{{Cite web |date=2018-03-02 |title=PROGRAM: 27 March 2018 by Detroit Opera - Issuu |url=https://issuu.com/detroitopera/docs/bravo27march2018 |access-date=2024-07-31 |website=issuu.com |language=en}}
• 2018: Daniel Sonenberg’s The Summer King, as a part of the company's Take Me Out to the Opera initiative exploring the role of the arts and sports in racial equity.{{Cite web |date=2018-05-01 |title=Michigan Opera Theatre Produces 'The Summer King,' the Story of the Life of Negro League Baseball Player Josh Gibson |url=https://www.blac.media/arts-culture/michigan-opera-theatre-produces-the-summer-king-the-story-of-the-life-of-negro-league-baseball-player-josh-gibson/ |access-date=2024-07-31 |website=BLAC Detroit |language=en-US}}
• 2020: Twilight: Gods, a drive-thru experience of Wagner’s Götterdämmerung (Twilight of the Gods) with English translation by Yuval Sharon and poetic narration by Marsha Music.{{Cite news |last=Barone |first=Joshua |date=2020-10-21 |title=Think Outside the Opera House, and Inside the Parking Garage |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/21/arts/music/twilight-gods-detroit-opera.html |access-date=2024-07-31 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}
• 2022: Puccini’s La bohème, with music presented in reverse order for the first time.{{Cite web |date=2022-03-31 |title=New 'La Boheme' tells story in reverse for happy ending |url=https://apnews.com/article/entertainment-music-detroit-opera-27b1ef64ad1bef699795a62c24ae6f35 |access-date=2024-07-31 |website=AP News |language=en}}
• 2022: The Valkyries, a new production of Wagner’s Die Walküre combining 3D computer graphics alongside live performance.{{Cite web |last=Cruz |first=Carmichael |date=2022-09-15 |title=High-tech meets high art: Behind Detroit Opera's live green screen adventure |url=https://www.clickondetroit.com/features/2022/09/15/high-tech-meets-high-art-behind-detroit-operas-live-green-screen-adventure/ |access-date=2024-07-31 |website=WDIV |language=en}}
• 2022: Anthony Davis' X: The Life and Times of Malcolm X.{{Cite news |last=Barone |first=Joshua |date=2021-03-23 |title=A Malcolm X Opera Will Get a Rare Revival in Detroit |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/23/arts/music/malcolm-x-opera-detroit.html |access-date=2024-07-31 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}
• 2024: John Cage’s Europeras 3 & 4.{{Cite web |date=2024-03-18 |title=L.A. lost Yuval Sharon to Detroit. Here's what we're missing — and what we might win back |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/story/2024-03-18/yuval-sharon-detroit-john-cage-christian-wolff |access-date=2024-07-31 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}
• 2024: Leoš Janáček’s Cunning Little Vixen, combining hand-drawn animation and video projections with live performance.{{Cite web |title=MSN |url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/music/news/detroit-operas-playful-cunning-little-vixen-is-a-welcome-change-of-pace-for-the-company/ar-BB1m5DHb?ocid=BingNewsSerp |access-date=2024-07-31 |website=www.msn.com}}

• 1989–90 Season: Swan Lake performed by Cleveland Ballet; this was the first time dance appeared in the season.{{Cite web |date=1989-09-01 |title=PROGRAM: Bravo 1989-90 Opera and Dance by Detroit Opera - Issuu |url=https://issuu.com/detroitopera/docs/bravo_1989-90_opera_and_dance |access-date=2024-07-31 |website=issuu.com |language=en}}
• 1993: MOT’s first self-produced ballet, The Sleeping Beauty, choreographed by Iacob Lascu.{{Cite web |last=Toledo Blade Staff |date=May 24, 1993 |title=Michigan Opera "Aida" deserving of accolades |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QFZPAAAAIBAJ&dq=1993+sleeping+beauty+michigan+opera+theatre+ballet&pg=PA15&article_id=6700,6905392}}
• 1996-97: American Ballet Theatre and Cleveland San Jose Ballet, MOT's first dance season.
• 1998: Alvin Ailey's Harlem Nutcracker, MOT debut.[http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-22075267.html Anticipation builds for Detroit debut of the Harlem Nutcracker] October 27, 1998. Accessed May 23, 2010. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121104034050/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-22075267.html |date=2012-11-04}}
• 1999: Paul Taylor Dance Company MOT debut.
• 2001: Joffrey Ballet's MOT debut.
• 2000: Ballet Internationale's The Nutcracker, the beginning of a tradition.
• 2002–2003: Bolshoi Ballet's Swan Lake.{{cite news| url=https://www.michigandaily.com/uncategorized/ums-bolshoi-ballet-bring-tchaikovskys-swan-lake-detroit/| title=UMS, Bolshoi Ballet bring Tchaikovsky's 'Swan Lake' to Detroit | first=Christine M.| last=Lasek| newspaper=The Michigan Daily| date=November 20, 2002| access-date=April 27, 2022}}
• 2003: Dance Theatre of Harlem.[http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=DTNB&s_site=detnews&f_site=detnews&f_sitename=Detroit+News%2C+The+%28MI%29&p_multi=DTNB&p_theme=gannett&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0F753AC9E124294D&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM "Dance Theatre Free to soar"]. The Detroit News. February 22, 2002. Accessed May 24, 2010. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110609051024/http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=DTNB&s_site=detnews&f_site=detnews&f_sitename=Detroit+News,+The+(MI)&p_multi=DTNB&p_theme=gannett&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0F753AC9E124294D&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM |date=June 9, 2011 }}
• 2003: Les Ballets Africains.
• 2004: The Kirov Ballet's (now the Mariinsky Ballet) La Bayadere.[http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=DTNB&s_site=detnews&f_site=detnews&f_sitename=Detroit+News%2C+The+%28MI%29&p_multi=DTNB&p_theme=gannett&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0FE6A3B3232C38CB&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM "Kirov brings years of history to Detroit in Bayadere"]. The Detroit News, October 24, 2004. Accessed May 23, 2010. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110609050451/http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=DTNB&s_site=detnews&f_site=detnews&f_sitename=Detroit+News,+The+(MI)&p_multi=DTNB&p_theme=gannett&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0FE6A3B3232C38CB&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM |date=June 9, 2011 }}
• 2004: North Carolina Dance Theatre's (now Charlotte Ballet) A Streetcar Named Desire.[http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=DTNB&s_site=detnews&f_site=detnews&f_sitename=Detroit+News%2C+The+%28MI%29&p_multi=DTNB&p_theme=gannett&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=101D0BA295E8291D&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM "'Streetcar' stops for big drama at the Opera House"]. The Detroit News. April 3, 2004. Accessed May 24, 2010. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110609051042/http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=DTNB&s_site=detnews&f_site=detnews&f_sitename=Detroit+News,+The+(MI)&p_multi=DTNB&p_theme=gannett&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=101D0BA295E8291D&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM |date=June 9, 2011 }}
• 2005–2006: Savion Glover.[http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=DTNB&s_site=detnews&f_site=detnews&f_sitename=Detroit+News%2C+The+%28MI%29&p_multi=DTNB&p_theme=gannett&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=10CC0A3847204F70&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM "Flight of feet fills stages"]. The Detroit News. September 17, 2005. Accessed May 24, 2010. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110609051556/http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=DTNB&s_site=detnews&f_site=detnews&f_sitename=Detroit+News,+The+(MI)&p_multi=DTNB&p_theme=gannett&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=10CC0A3847204F70&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM |date=June 9, 2011 }}
• 2007: The Grand Rapids Ballet's Where The Wild Things Are.[http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=DTNB&s_site=detnews&f_site=detnews&f_sitename=Detroit+News%2C+The+%28MI%29&p_multi=DTNB&p_theme=gannett&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=11839A61A8941F60&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM "Wild Things"]. The Detroit News. March 31. 2007. Accessed May 24, 2010. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110609051748/http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=DTNB&s_site=detnews&f_site=detnews&f_sitename=Detroit+News,+The+(MI)&p_multi=DTNB&p_theme=gannett&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=11839A61A8941F60&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM |date=June 9, 2011 }}

Among the notable artists who have sung at MOT early in their careers are: Detroit-born Maria Ewing who sang in the 1970 The Barber of Seville production; Leona Mitchell, who sang Bess in the company's 1975 production of Porgy and Bess; Kathleen Battle, whose 1975 performance as Rosina in The Barber of Seville marked her operatic debut; Catherine Malfitano, who created the role of Catherine Sloper in MOT's world premiere staging of Washington Square in 1976. Other notable artists include The Metropolitan Opera's Jerome Hines, a bass, who in 1974 sang the title role of Boris Godunov; Nicole Cabell who sang Musetta in La bohème in 2005, a few months after winning the BBC Cardiff Singer of the World competition; Australian soprano Dame Joan Sutherland who sang the title role in Donizetti's Anna Bolena;Vallongo, Sally (May 31, 1984). [https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=_Q0VAAAAIBAJ&sjid=wgIEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5164,2795134&dq=anna+bolena+1984+michigan+opera+theatre&hl=en "Out of Town: Detroit"]. The Blade. Toledo. Accessed May 11, 2010. Martina Arroyo and Ghena Dimitrova who sang in MOT's 1986 production of Turandot; Luciano Pavarotti who sang at Joe Louis Arena in 1989; Irina Mishura who played Carmen during the 1996-97 season;{{cite news| url=http://www.pridesource.com/article.html?article=29646| first=Michael H.| last=Margolin| title='Idol' making at the Detroit Opera House| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110929220806/http://www.pridesource.com/article.html?article=29646| archive-date=2011-09-29| newspaper=Between the Lines| date=March 20, 2008| access-date=April 27, 2022}} The Three Tenors in 1999 at the historic Tiger Stadium in Detroit,[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=3twLAAAAIBAJ&sjid=1FUDAAAAIBAJ&pg=2246,1497049&dq=the+three+tenors+in+detroit&hl=en Michigan Opera Theatre Cashes in on Three Tenors] Ludington Daily News. Associated Press. July 15, 1999. Accessed May 11, 2010. Andrea Bocelli who made his staged operatic debut in Werther and Denyce Graves who made her MOT debut in Werther; Vyacheslav Polozov, the Russian tenor who sang in Puccini's La bohème; and Ewa Podleś, the Polish contralto who sang in Verdi's A Masked Ball. More recently, the acclaimed dramatic soprano Christine Goerke has performed in Fidelio (2013), Elektra (2014), Twilight: Gods (2020), Cavalleria Rusticana (2021), The Valkyries (2022), and Aida In Concert (2022) alongside soprano Angel Blue.Goerke served as Detroit Opera’s associate artistic director from 2021-2024.

Detroit Opera has staged the world premieres of the following operas:

• 1976: Washington Square, composed by Thomas Pasatieri to a libretto by Kenward Elmslie after Henry James's novel, Washington Square.{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20081120161123/http://www.thomaspasatieri.org/washsquare.html Washington Square documentation]}} on the official web site of its composer, Thomas Pasatieri. Accessed 29 July 2008.
• 1978: Singers / "What is there to sing about?" composed by Charles Strouse, commissioned by MOT.[http://www.vptheatre.com/plays&tickets_cast&crew.htm Virginia Premiere Theatre; Joel Grow] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717232140/http://www.vptheatre.com/plays%26tickets_cast%26crew.htm |date=2011-07-17 }} Accessed May 24, 2010
• 2005: Margaret Garner, composed by Richard Danielpour to a libretto by Toni Morrison based on her novel Beloved.[https://web.archive.org/web/20060617213401/http://margaretgarner.org/tickets.html Performance record of Margaret Garner at Michigan Opera Theatre], on the official site of Margaret Garner, an American Opera. Accessed 29 July 2008.
• 2007: Cyrano composed by David DiChiera to a libretto by Bernard Uzan after Edmond Rostand's play Cyrano de Bergerac.[http://www.cyranotheopera.com/cyrano/mot.html Performance record of Cyrano at Michigan Opera Theatre] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100406024540/http://www.cyranotheopera.com/cyrano/mot.html |date=2010-04-06 }}, Cyrano, the Opera official site. Accessed 29 July 2008.

Detroit Opera staged these North American premieres:

• 1981: Anoush composed by Armen Tigranian Based on a Poem by Hovhannes Toumanian.{{cite news| last=Rockwell| first=John| url=https://www.nytimes.com/1981/11/02/arts/opera-anoush-classic-of-armenia-in-detroit.html| title=Opera Anoush| newspaper=The New York Times| date=November 2, 1981| url-access=subscription}}
• 1982: The Haunted Castle (The Haunted Manor), composed by Stanisław Moniuszko and translated from Polish by Sally Williams-Haik.{{Cite web |date=1982-09-01 |title=PROGRAM: Bravo 1982-1983 Opera by Detroit Opera - Issuu |url=https://issuu.com/detroitopera/docs/bravo_1982-1983_opera |access-date=2024-07-31 |website=issuu.com |language=en}}

;Notes

{{Reflist}}

;Sources

• Bender, William (October 18, 1976). [https://web.archive.org/web/20050111223938/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,946731,00.html "Rite of Maturation"]. Time. Accessed 29 July 2008.
• Bradsher, Keith (October 28, 1999). [https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9804EED91338F93BA15753C1A96F958260&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=print "A Horn of Plenty For Opera in Detroit: How to Thrive in a Blue-Collar City"]. The New York Times. Accessed 29 July 2008.
• Holland, Bernard (May 9, 2005). [https://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/09/arts/music/09marg.html?pagewanted=print "Giving New Voice to Former Slave's Tale of Sacrifice"]. The New York Times. Accessed 29 July 2008.
• Anne Midgette, Anne (February 15, 2008). [https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/14/AR2008021403360_pf.html "Philadelphia's 'Cyrano': Actually, They Do Make 'Em Like That Anymore"]. The Washington Post.p. C04. Accessed 29 July 2008.
• [https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=110&dat=19960422&id=T8IoAAAAIBAJ&sjid=TVUDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5185,1863801 Detroit Opera House Opens with Pavarotti], Ludington Daily News. Associated Press. April 22, 1996. Accessed 25 April 2010.
• Quinn, John & Donald V. Calamia (February 9, 2006). [https://web.archive.org/web/20110727151500/http://www.pridesource.com/article.html?article=17481 "Curtain Calls Online: News from the World of Professional Theatre: National Opera Associations Honors MOT with two awards"]. Between the Lines. Accessed May 4, 2010.
• Clark, Alexandria. [https://archive.today/20121215105538/http://sitemaker.umich.edu/livingmusic/view_by_role&value1=Composing&mode=single&recordID=1013558&comparisonType0=is+equal+to&comparisonType1=is+equal+to&sortDirection0=Ascending&sortDirection1=Ascending&sortDirection2=Descending&nextMode=list&joinCondition1=OR&column0=arena&column1=arenatwo&sortColumn0=informantlastname&sortColumn1=informantfirstandmiddlename&sortColumn2=date&value0=Composing "Living Music: Interview Record"]. University of Michigan: School of Music & American Music Institute. Accessed May 10, 2010.
• {{cite book| first=Armando| last=Delicato| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=d5YD7HqcR0MC&q=Detroit+Grand+Opera+Association+The+Barber+of+Seville&pg=PA75| title=Italians in Detroit| publisher=Arcadia Publishing| year=2005| page=75| isbn=978-0-7385-3985-0| accessdate=March 18, 2018}}

• [https://detroitopera.org Detroit Opera's official site]

{{Portal|Michigan}}

• [http://digital.library.wayne.edu/digitalcollections/item?id=wayne:collectionMOT Michigan Opera Theatre Performance Images] at Wayne State University Library contains a digitized and searchable collection of forty years of photographs of performances at the Michigan Opera Theatre from 1964-2004.

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Category:American opera companies

Category:Culture of Detroit

Category:Musical groups established in 1970

Category:Performing arts in Michigan

Category:1970 establishments in Michigan