The History

Opera Carolina is the premiere professional opera company in the Carolinas, presenting three mainstage productions and acclaimed Education & Outreach Programs that reach more than 65,000 citizens in North Carolina, South Carolina and northern Georgia each year. Our performances can also be heard online and through the airwaves on NPR World of Opera, which reaches more than 200,000 people nationwide.

We are proud to announce that the 2011/12 season is being sponsored by Wells Fargo Private Bank. This generous support allows us to bring you Great Artists - Great Productions - Great Opera. There are more reasons than ever to reserve your seats for the entire three-opera season: Internationally Acclaimed Artists, Lavish Productions, New Benefits, Improved Access to the Belk Theater, and a discount for your Premiere Seating.

The Grand Opera season at the Belk Theater begins with Verdi’s great opera Il Trovatore in an exciting new production. Il Trovatore stars internationally acclaimed tenor Antonello Palombi, from Milan’s Teatro alla Scala, as Manrico; opera superstar Denyce Graves as Azucena; the exciting American soprano Lisa Daltirus as Leonora; and American baritone Michael Corvino as Count di Luna.

In January, we present a compelling production of Puccini’s eternal Madama Butterfly starring acclaimed Korean soprano Yunah Lee as Cio-Cio-San. From Teatro alla Scala, and making his U.S. debut, is Brazilian tenor Fernando Portari as the American Navy Lieutenant Benjamin Franklin Pinkerton. This visually stunning and provocative production by Japanese artist Jun Kaneko combines his cultural heritage with a unique artistic vision. Learn more about Kaneko’s work at junkaneko.com.

The Opera season comes to a magnificent conclusion with the Charlotte premiere of Tchaikovsky’s elegant setting of Alexander Pushkin’s masterpiece Eugene Onegin, starring North Carolina’s own Metropolitan Opera star Anthony Dean Griffey in his debut as Lensky, Onegin’s best friend. Our production of Tchaikovsky’s moving tragedy stars the brilliant Russian baritone Vasily Ladyuk as Onegin; Russian soprano Dina Kuznetsova as Tatyana; Charlotte’s very own Victoria Livengood as Filipevna; and Kristopher Irmiter as Prince Gremin.

Thanks to the leadership of our Board of Directors, and the loyalty of our individual donors and corporate patrons, Opera Carolina has emerged from the recession stronger than ever, with a new commitment to artistry and community engagement. We’re ready to take Opera Carolina to new heights of excellence - be part of this great journey.

There are many elements to our website that will help make your experience at the opera fulfilling, so have fun navigating through the stories, composer backgrounds, special features, musical excerpts, libretti, and artist information. Also, be sure to follow us on Facebook and Twitter for exclusive online content and promotions!

See you at the Opera!



James Meena
General Director & Principal Conductor

About Us

Founded in 1948 as a Charlotte Music Club project by a small group of volunteers with a budget of $125, Opera Carolina today is the largest professional opera company in the Carolinas. Opera Carolina is the product of a 1986 merger of the Charlotte Opera Association and North Carolina Opera, combining main stage, educational, and touring operations.

Opera Carolina's current annual operating budget is $3 million.

The mission of Opera Carolina is:

To inspire the region's diverse community through the presentation of excellent Opera, Operetta and Education & Outreach Programs that elevates the quality of life in the Carolinas.

Opera Carolina's vision is to be the premiere professional opera company in the South, encompassing a level of performance and community service that inspires the general population. We envision:

  • Opera Carolina performances as being sought-after events by a socially and culturally diverse population that values the quality of our productions and the interesting, balanced repertoire we present.
  • Opera Carolina as being an acknowledged leader in the opera field itself by maximizing our financial resources to present opera performances of the highest quality.
  • A company that is actively engaged in the community, offering unique, diverse and sometimes challenging performances and presentations.
  • A company that makes a quantitative and qualitative difference in the education of young people, and that enriches the curriculum of schools in the region.

The main stage season is presented at the Belk Theater of the North Carolina Blumenthal Performing Arts Center located in uptown Charlotte. In addition, Opera Carolina's acclaimed Education & Outreach Programs educate and entertain thousands of students and their families in North Carolina, South Carolina and Northern Georgia annually.

Opera Carolina is a member of OPERA America, Inc., and receives funds from the Arts & Science Council/Charlotte-Mecklenburg, the North Carolina Arts Council, and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Arts & Science Council