Schedule
Join opera administrators, artists, trustees, and advocates from around the world in Los Angeles for a full week of activities.
- World Opera Forum: Monday, June 3 - Wednesday, June 5, 2024
- Opera Conference: Wednesday, June 5 - Saturday, June 8, 2024
- Performance Festival: Saturday, June 1 - Saturday, June 8, 2024
Full schedules of sessions and events during the forum and conference will be released in the spring. Explore the listing of festival performances.
Conference/Forum App
Registrants to the forum and conference will be able to build their schedule in the conference/forum app, which will be released in the spring. If you've already registered, log in to add performance tickets and events to your schedule.
Schedule Overview
The full line-up of forum and conference activities spans Saturday, June 1 through Saturday, June 8.
World Opera Forum Sessions
Additional activities to be announced. The full line-up of forum activities spans Monday, June 3 through Wednesday, June 5.
Monday, June 3
Introduction: Making a Case for Opera in the 21st Century
11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Opera has benefitted for decades from the support of cultural agencies and private philanthropists for different reasons. In much of Europe, governments have been motivated by a sense of obligation to their national culture and cultural infrastructure. In North America, the grandeur and exclusivity of opera has been an allure to many social and business leaders. Many countries exhibit a mix of these motivations, but in a world of competing priorities and limited resources, support structures for opera companies in their current form are weakening.
Making a case for opera today cannot be a simple narrative exercise in which different language is found to change the public perception and value of the art form. Superficial changes will not be sufficient to overcome barriers to opera participation. Making a case for opera requires new organizational and artistic strategies that make theaters welcoming to more diverse audiences and convey the importance of the arts, artists, and arts workers to healthy communities and thriving economies.
What is the government’s responsibility to support the arts in a world that is becoming increasingly multicultural? Are commitments to overcome the elitism of opera and increase diversity authentic and sustained? Is the tempo of evolution too slow; is disruption a necessary precursor to reinvention?
Tuesday, June 4
Topic I: What We Produce, How We Produce It, and For Whom
9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Through the 20th century and into the 21st, opera has been defined by a 19th-century European repertoire that extended Europe’s cultural sensibilities around the world, including some works that promote cultural stereotyping and depict the mistreatment of women. Some of these works have enduring musical importance but require careful consideration in light of contemporary sensibilities.
At the same time, an increasing number of new works tell new stories in different styles that connect opera to life today. Composers and librettists entering the opera sphere are helping the art form evolve as a contemporary cultural expression. New collaborative, cooperative, and devised models of creation are expanding the creative diversity of the art form. Co-production among companies leverages resources and promotes sustainability. The incorporation of film, video, and other new technologies amplifies the scope of production design and composition. Technology also expands the reach of opera outside the walls of the opera house through live transmission, recordings, and work developed specifically for the screen.
Enlarging the palette of opera increases the potential to attract new audiences, and while most companies report record-setting first-time attendance, many newcomers are not yet returning frequently. Some long-standing audiences are unenthusiastic about new works and new interpretations of their favorite operas. Many people have incorporated new forms and formats of entertainment and cultural consumption into their lives, intensifying competition for their time and attention.
How can the intersection of the old and new enrich the entire opera experience? What is the right balance between stories with local impact and universal appeal? Can stewardship of the operatic inheritance and encouragement of new creation be woven into an appealing continuum? Should continuity be the goal, or is discontinuity the more appropriate path to progress?
Topic II: Elevating Human Values
2:00 - 5:00 p.m.
The worldwide pandemic shined the light on the urgency to reassess opera’s relationship with the people who bring the art form to life. Opera leaders have a history of inspiring audiences with transporting productions and virtuosic performances, but this success has taken place too often without sufficient regard for the well-being of the artists and artisans who make the work possible.
Opera leaders are called upon to examine and adjust long-standing policies and practices to retain and recruit staff in critical areas of operation and provide a responsible level of job security. The training of artists must prepare them to exercise agency in the progress of their own multifaceted careers. A sustained commitment to embrace new attitudes and values and create workplaces that affirm individual identities, promote social and racial justice, and assure safe and respectful work conditions is an essential basis for extending service to the public.
How can producers overcome inherited attitudes and adjust ingrained practices to improve conditions for artists and arts workers? How can artists be empowered as full partners in the opera enterprise? How can artists and arts workers thrive in the context of reduced productivity? Will changed values reshape the structure and operation of opera companies?
Wednesday, June 5
Topic III: Becoming Engaged Cultural Citizens
9:00 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Opera cannot thrive without a demonstrable connection to the social and political dynamics of the communities that are home to companies. In an age defined by war and migration, climate change, cultural and economic inequities, political polarization, and increasing diversity, the mission of opera must expand beyond the narrow purview of the arts.
With a shared, multi-national repertoire, every opera company will be enriched by its unique relationship to its place and the qualities that shape it. Opera’s inherent capacity to convene, communicate, educate, and bridge divides must be shared broadly to improve the lives and lift the spirits of people who may never enter the opera house in addition to those who enjoy the art form.
How can the demands of producing opera be integrated into a larger commitment to addressing varied and changing civic priorities? Can the aesthetics of public service be appreciated equally with the aesthetics of production and performance? Do expanded civic responsibilities require changes in organizational missions?
Closing Session: Making a Case for Opera
1:30 - 3:30 p.m.
We return to the opening challenge. Have two days of debate about critical issues among global opera leaders clarified programmatic aspirations, prioritization of respect for the people of opera, and the relationship of companies to the places they inhabit? Can creative sustainability, environmental sustainability, and financial sustainability coexist in a supportable balance? Can they reinforce one another in a manner that brings new energy to a 400-year-old art form?
Schedule is subject to change.
Opera Conference Sessions
Additional sessions, roundtables, and activities to be announced. The full line-up of conference activities spans Wednesday, June 5 through Saturday, June 8.
Wednesday, June 5
Opening Session: Making a Case for Opera
2:00 - 3:30 p.m.
We return to the opening challenge. Have two days of debate about critical issues among global opera leaders clarified programmatic aspirations, prioritization of respect for the people of opera, and the relationship of companies to the places they inhabit? Can creative sustainability, environmental sustainability, and financial sustainability coexist in a supportable balance? Can they reinforce one another in a manner that brings new energy to a 400-year-old art form?
Reception: Host Company Reception
6:00 - 7:00 p.m.
LA Opera invites you to an evening reception at the iconic Dorothy Chandler Pavilion to celebrate the launch of Opera Conference 2024. Enjoy drinks and hors d’oeuvres while you mix and mingle with colleagues from around the world.
Thursday, June 6
Plenary: Managing Accelerating Change
9:30 - 10:30 a.m.
The need to manage change grows more urgent. The repertoire is expanding with new works, new audiences are sampling opera in greater numbers, generational change is disrupting patterns of giving, and technology is revolutionizing work. With small staffs and limited resources, opera companies must remain alert to opportunities and be more nimble than ever before. Artists, too, have to become adept at managing career paths that are varied, exciting, and challenging at the same time. Leading administrators and artists will discuss the skills and strategies needed to manage the accelerating tempo of change.
Plenary: What Does It Mean to Be Local?
2:00 - 3:00 p.m.
Even companies with national and international reputations deliver most of their service and derive most of their support locally. But what does it mean to be local?
Beyond a limited number of performances each season, how do companies work with local artists, arts organizations, and other community partners to deliver local value throughout the year? How does a focus on local benefit increase the potential for creativity and expand the definition of aesthetic excellence? Opera company leaders and community partners will discuss the importance of building a company culture that prioritizes its relationship with its place.
Board Size: One Size Does NOT Fit All
11:00 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Questions about the optimum size of an opera board are perennial. The answer requires a careful balance — between the need for community representation and contributed income, and the positive impact of individual engagement. In this session, we will define these competing forces and empower individual companies to achieve their own balance.
Building a Better Subscription
11:00 am - 12:00 p.m.
Subscription sales in the performing arts have been waning in recent years, but subscriptions to online arts and entertainment have been skyrocketing. Are these models comparable, or are we comparing apples to oranges? In this session, we'll speak with an expert in consumer subscriptions to determine what the performing arts can learn from alternative subscription models and hear from LA Opera about their learning from recent updates to their subscription program.
Building Positive Relationships with Artist Management
3:30 - 4:30 p.m.
The pandemic upended the complex relationship between opera companies and artist managers and between artist managers and their artist clients. In this session, artists, managers, and company administrators will discuss what was learned in crisis and how to foster a healthy, productive working relationship among those who bring opera to life.
Can Technology Optimize Production Impact and Efficiency?
3:30 - 4:30 p.m.
Projections, film, and image magnification are just a few of the scenic elements that enliven new productions. In this session, panelists will discuss the latest advances in stage technology and debate their effectiveness. Do they respond to audience expectations for visual impact? Do they reduce the costs of building, storing, and sharing productions? Do they enhance or diminish the human dimension of performance?
Set for Success: Supporting the Next Generation of Singers
11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
The demands of the modern opera landscape have changed for singers, and many are racing to catch up. Onstage and off, a successful career depends on much more than good singing alone. In this session, producers, educators, and artists will discuss the skills and knowledge singers need to thrive and what they’re doing to support singers’ growth.
So, You've Done Your Pronouns Training
12:15 - 1:00 p.m.
Storytelling and Well-Being
3:30 - 4:30 p.m.
Opera is the most intense form of storytelling, but this very intensity can have a negative impact on those engaged in the performance experience. In this session, artists and staff will examine the crucial link between storytelling and well-being in opera creation. They will discuss the elements of responsible storytelling, how it supports commitments to inclusivity and diversity, and how it honors the human experience.
The Next Generation of Your Donors
11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Fundraisers are masters at stewarding major donors — but what about donors’ children? Trillions of dollars in the United States will pass from the wealthiest donors to the next generation over the next two decades. In this session, development experts from several opera companies will discuss how to retain the support of their biggest donors, even when opera isn’t the passion of their children.
Welcoming Newcomers and Their Ideas
3:30 - 4:30 p.m.
Board leaders seek ways to increase the diversity of boards, but welcoming newcomers into the boardroom requires openness to new ideas and perspectives. Experts will discuss the initial work that is required to ensure new board members are encouraged to contribute their expertise to the enterprise.
Who Do We Listen To?
3:30 - 4:30 p.m.
Some long-serving board members, generous donors, and vocal opera lovers express their opinions about repertoire, productions, and casting with enthusiasm, but forceful expression of their preferences can derail thoughtful decision-making. Who should have input? How is data infused into the process? What is the place of professional expertise? Company leaders, trustees, and supporters discuss best practices for managing these relationships and balancing priorities.
Whose Season Is It?
11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Some companies are expanding their decision-making process by inviting community input into artistic choices. They are using storytelling to increase local impact and community appreciation of the company and the art form. Hear from opera leaders, community representatives, and creative artists about the positive impact of investing in the local.
Reception: Sponsor Reception
4:30 - 6:00 p.m.
Celebrate Opera Conference with wine and hors d'oeuvres compliments of your Opera Conference 2024 sponsors! Network with your conference colleagues as you peruse the Exhibit Hall.
Reception: Affinity Network Reception
5:30 - 7:00 p.m.
Members and friends of OPERA America’s Affinity Networks are invited to gather for a special Thursday evening reception.
- LGBTQIA+ Network
- Racial Justice Opera Network
- Women’s Opera Network
Additional ticket purchase required ($25); includes open bar and heavy hors d'oeuvres.
Friday, June 7
AI as a Marketing Tool
3:30 - 4:30 p.m.
When ChatGPT was released, it took the world by storm, promising that AI would bring sweeping changes to work and life. Nearly two years later, how are companies using generative AI? In this session, a panel of marketers will discuss how they’ve implemented AI as a tool to augment their marketing teams and provide tips for utilization.
Creating Belonging for Audiences
11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
There was a notable increase in first-time ticket buyers across the United States in the 2022–2023 season, signaling a positive trend for the future. But how do we ensure these newcomers become returning patrons? Can marketing communications foster a sense of belonging that encourages audience retention? In this session, a panel of arts leaders will examine retention strategies and the importance of creating an enriching audience experience.
Creating Brave Spaces to Make Dangerous Art
12:15 - 1:00 p.m.
Leveraging Technology in Education
11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Opera companies are leveraging digital platforms, virtual reality, and augmented reality to create a new era of opera education. In this panel discussion, you’ll gain insights into the challenges, successes, and aspirations of those at the intersection of opera education and technology.
Moving Beyond the Minimum Required Contribution
3:30 - 4:30 p.m.
For decades, boards have expanded in size, and minimum required contributions have increased to underpin company finances. Several companies have abandoned this inherited practice, realizing that such minimums are barriers to building boards that reflect their communities. Experienced company leaders will discuss the case they made for change and the impact of this change on their organizations.
New Perspectives on Digital
3:30 - 4:30 p.m.
Digital access to opera proliferated during the pandemic and continues to be a rich avenue for creators to tell stories and for audiences to experience opera in a new medium. VR, AR, and other immersive technologies promise to expand and enrich the opera landscape even further. Experts discuss the latest developments and how creators, performers, and audiences can engage with digital technologies.
Opening Channels of Internal Collaboration
11:00 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Company staff become siloed under the pressure of daily demands and annual goals, but cross-departmental communication and collaboration are central to success. In this session, administrators discuss how they’ve improved transparency and teamwork at their organizations.
Realizing Organizational Goals for Social Justice
3:30 - 4:30 p.m.
Rehearsal is a paradigm for achieving success in opera. Many companies have engaged in some level of EDI training and anti-harassment workshops, but creating safe, respectful, and equitable workplaces requires steady practice and coaching. With staff changes and board member rotations, newcomers to opera companies and veterans alike need to rehearse the action that advances social justice. In this session, experts will discuss ways to achieve virtuosity in this essential work.
Rebuilding the Middle
11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Many companies relied on the steadfast generosity of their largest donors during the pandemic and enjoyed swells of entry-level, first-time contributors. However, mid-level giving — including gifts tied to subscription renewals and other performance-based perks — dropped off. In this session, fundraisers from LA Opera and other companies will discuss how they are working to rebuild these giving programs, especially as pipelines to major gifts.
Self-Production as a New Mode
11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Artists are self-producing more than ever and creating new structures to support this work. Funders and larger institutions are responding by investing in these independent projects. This new dynamic is empowering artists in new ways and changing the performing arts landscape. Artists and producers will discuss the structures and basic tenets of self-production and how collaboration can help artists realize their visions.
What to Look Out for This Election Year
3:30 - 4:30 p.m.
It’s an election year, so companies and their constituents need to be knowledgeable about legislative priorities at the national and state levels and their potential impact. In this session, experts will discuss what’s trending, the consequences for opera companies and the performing arts community, and what individuals can do to have influence at the local and national levels.
Reception: Early-Career Mixer
9:00 - 10:30 p.m.
Early-career opera professionals are invited to socialize over drinks and snacks. Catch up with old friends and build new professional relationships.
Additional ticket purchase required ($20); includes open bar and snacks.
Reception: Network Dinners
5:00 - 7:00 p.m.
Mix, mingle, and enjoy drinks and dinner with members of your network at the Omni Hotel.
Networks include:
- Artists
- Artistic Administration
- Development
- Education/Community Engagement early
- Finance/HR
- General Directors
- Marketing/PR
- Performer Development
- Technical/Production
Additional ticket purchase required ($95); includes 2 drink tickets and dinner.
Reception: Leadership Alumni Mixer
9:00 - 10:30 p.m.
Alumni and current participants of OPERA America’s leadership development programs (listed below) are invited to mix and mingle with their friends and colleagues at this special reception.
OPERA America’s leadership development programs include:
- Leadership Launch
- Leadership Intensive
- Mentorship Program for Opera Leaders of Color
- Mentorship Program for Women Administrators
- New General Directors Roundtable
Additional ticket purchase required ($20); includes open bar and snacks.
Saturday, June 8
Closing Session
9:30 - 11:00 a.m.
Conclude the annual conference with colleagues and special guests who will reflect on the impact of the meeting and offer strategies to advance the case for opera. We’ll extend our gratitude to the LA Opera for their effort on our behalf and appreciate the work of the OPERA America staff. Plus, learn where we’ll convene for Opera Conference 2025!
Los Angeles Regional Auditions
5:30 - 7:30 p.m.
General directors, artistic and music directors, artistic administrators, and members of the Performer Development Network are invited to hear artists from the greater Los Angeles area and current members of Los Angeles Opera’s resident artist program in audition. This session is open to Professional Company Member staff engaged in casting and training artists and agents/managers representing artists. To register, email Artistic@operaamerica.org.
Advance registration is required.
Schedule is subject to change.