History

The Dunedin Opera Company Inc. is New Zealand’s longest-running opera company, now celebrating its 60th anniversary. It is situated in Dunedin, and is committed to: producing quality opera; presenting new works that tell our NZ stories; offering innovative approaches to traditional works; and supporting young NZ performers.

For its first 45 years, under the name ‘Dunedin Opera Company’ presented productions with local amateur choruses, talented local soloists and a sprinkling of outside paid soloists when necessary. In the last 15 years, under a new name, ‘Opera Otago’ has taken a new direction with a move towards innovative, high quality productions, providing a platform for young NZ performers, while continuing to share the live experience of opera with audiences in the South of New Zealand. Opera Otago particularly has an interest in staging new works by New Zealand composers, and presenting old works in new and innovative ways.

Opera Otago aims to present two productions per year, a large-scale production and a production aimed at children, with workshops and tours of the region where time and resources permit. Its Executive Committee is currently made up of seven enthusiastic and talented individuals with a broad range of experience and knowledge that they utilise in running the company.

As a not-for-profit volunteer organisation, Dunedin Opera Company Inc. relies on grants from local and national businesses and trusts to support it. We also rely on individual supporters who make up our audience, our membership base, and who can donate to help us to maintain a quality home of Opera in the South of New Zealand.