The Des Moines Metro Opera will be celebrating its 36th anniversary season during the summer of 2008. Founded in 1973 by Dr. Robert L. Larsen and Douglas Duncan, the company is based in Indianola, Iowa. Performances take place at the Blank Performing Arts Center on the campus of Simpson College.
Each season, starting about the middle of June and running through the middle of July, the company hosts a summer opera festival that includes three main-stage productions, plus an Apprentice Artist Program of outstanding quality that has become an example for other regional opera companies. Many of DMMO's artists have gone on to musically rewarding careers, having gotten their start with DMMO's Apprentice Artist Program.
In addition, during the off-season, the Des Moines Metro Opera serves as the parent company for Opera Iowa, a small but expert touring company that travels all over the region, bringing opera to audiences who normally would never have a chance to see an opera. Opera Iowa has traveled as far as China and Japan, performing to great acclaim. For more information about the company's activities, click here.
To see what the opera has produced over the past few seasons, click here.