About
World Opera Day is an awareness campaign of the positive impact and value of Opera for society. Opera as well as the arts contributes to developing tolerance and understanding, opening minds, and getting people in touch with strong universal emotions.
Just as much as sport shapes a healthy body, the arts shape a healthy mind.
World Opera Day is celebrated on 25 October, the birthday of Georges Bizet and Johann Strauss II, composers of possibly the world’s most famous opera and operetta.
In practical terms, World Opera Day is a day when our members but also other opera companies, along with opera lovers, opera professionals and opera-related people may show and celebrate the value of the art form. The celebration is taking place live and online. Respecting local measures, participating opera companies will host diverse opportunities for audiences to meet opera. A global social media campaign will carry our message.
The recognition of a common need and desire for advocacy for the arts in general, and opera in particular, led the three organisations – OPERA America, Ópera Latinoamérica and Opera Europa – to join forces to launch a first World Opera Day; but they count on the support of numerous partners in doing so. National Opera organisations, such as Association fr Opera in Canada (Canada), Réunion des Opéras de France (France), Deutscher Bühnenverien (DE), Ópera XXI (Spain) and Opera & Music Theatre Forum (UK) have already committed to take part in this campaign as have the National Centres for Performing Arts in China and India.
World Opera Day Partners
OPERA America
OPERA America is the American membership organization for artists, administrators, trustees and audiences, dedicated to supporting the creation, presentation and enjoyment of opera. Based in New York City at the National Opera Center, a custom-built rehearsal and performance facility for the opera field, OPERA America is committed to advancing new work, audience engagement, civic practice, artist and leadership development, research, national advocacy and an inclusive industry that moves opera forward.
Opera Europa
Opera Europa is the leading service organisation for professional opera companies and opera festivals throughout Europe. It currently serves over 200 member companies from 45 different countries.
Beyond the professional services it offers to its members, Opera Europa is the lead partner and editor of www.OperaVision.eu, a free opera streaming platform supported by the European Union’s Creative Europe programme.
Ópera Latinoamérica
Ópera Latinoamérica OLA is a non-for profit organisation for opera houses across Latin America and Spain. Founded in 2007, OLA gathers over 35 theatres and opera companies from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guatemala, Spain, Mexico, Peru, USA and Uruguay. Its mission is to advance opera and arts of classical representation activities in Latin America through networking and collaboration. Its vision is to be a bridge between opera in Latin America and the world. A support network and reference for opera in Latin America.
International partners
Creative Europe
Creative Europe is the European Commission's framework programme for support to the culture and audiovisual sectors. OperaVision, which is leading the online celebration of World Opera Day, is co-funded by the Creative Europe Programme.
FEDORA
The European Circle of Philanthropists of Opera and Ballet is a non-profit organisation, created in Paris under the presidency of Jérôme-François Zieseniss, supporting artistic innovation and creativity in opera and dance. Together with our network of over 113 cultural institutions as well as individual and corporate donors in 28 countries, we encourage a sustainable ecosystem between the cultural and economic sector to guarantee the future of these art forms. To do so, we provide funding and international visibility for innovative new operas and dance creations through the FEDORA Prizes Biennale.
IAMA
The International Artist Managers' Association (IAMA) - is the only worldwide association for classical music artist managements. It is dedicated to serving all its members' needs including Affiliate and Group members and it strives to raise professional standards in the business of music.
International Theatre Institute
The aim of the founders of ITI was to build an organization that was aligned with UNESCO’s goals on culture, education and the arts, and which would focus its endeavours on improving the status of all members of the performing arts professions. They envisaged an organization that created platforms for international exchange and for engagement in the education of the performing arts, for beginners and professionals alike, as well as using the performing arts for mutual understanding and peace.
Opera for Peace
Opera for Peace - Leading Young Voices of the World is a new cultural movement reflecting the reality of today's globalized world. We believe in the strength of connecting nations. Artistic development occurs through a unique and personalized global schedule of high level training projects, concerts, masterclasses, educational exchanges, special cultural diplomatic projects and events. We give special support to artists from disadvantaged backgrounds and promote diversity, social justice and equality. We provide a platform for our artists and partners to speak about social issues facing our world.
RESEO
RESEO is a network for arts education and creative learning with a specific focus on opera, music and dance. Founded in 1996, RESEO brings together organisations and artists from Europe and beyond to promote innovation and equal access to creativity, exchange ideas, and collaborate on shared initiatives, making us a true catalyst for development in the field. Spread across 25 countries in Europe and beyond, RESEO’s seventy-five members pool their respective practices, cultures and values.
National partners
Association for Opera in Canada
Opera.ca is the national association for opera in Canada. Opera.ca is a registered national arts service organisation governed by a nine-member Board of Directors. It counts all of Canada’s leading opera and music theatre companies among its professional company members, and serves a growing number of business, affiliate, and individual members.
National Centre for the Performing Arts China
As China's top performing arts centre, the NCPA will adhere to the guiding principle: 'for the people, for art and for the world' and strive for the objectives of being: a key member of prestigious international theatres; the supreme palace of performing arts in China; the leader of arts education and popularization; the grandest platform for international arts exchange; an important base for cultural and creative industry.
Réunion des Opéras de France
La Réunion des Opéras de France is the national opera network that currently federates 35 operas, stages, festivals and opera companies. It brings together elected officials and professionals within its Board of Directors. Committed for 50 years to the defence and promotion of opera and choreography, it contributes to the development of resources on opera, encourages exchange and consultation between its members and represents the sector to the public authorities. Since 2007, ROF is leading the annual initiative ‘Tous à l'Opéra’ !
National Centre for the Performing Arts India
The National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA), Mumbai, is India's premier cultural institution. Inaugurated in 1969, it was the first multi-venue, multi-genre cultural centre in South Asia. The NCPA is committed to preserving and promoting India's rich and vibrant artistic heritage in the fields of music, dance, theatre, film, literature and photography, as well as presenting new and innovative work by Indian and international artists from a diverse range of genres including drama, contemporary dance, orchestral concerts, opera, jazz and chamber music. Today, the NCPA hosts more than 700 events each year, making it India’s largest and most holistic performing arts centre.
Associazione Teatri Italiani di Tradizione
The 29 traditional theatres, represented by the ATIT, are institutions with strong roots in the territory that qualify nationally and internationally for an opera production of around 350 performances a year, focusing above all on promoting young artists. They also provide multidisciplinary performances of dance, drama, symphony concerts and chamber music.
Deutscher Bühnenverein
The Deutscher Bühnenverein based in Cologne is an organisation representing 465 theatres, opera houses, regional and private theatres as well as orchestras in Germany. It is involved in artistic, legal, organisational and political questions relevant to its members and publishes annual reports.
OperaNorge
OperaNorge is a network of opera producers in Norway established in 2008 with the purpose of improving conditions for the operatic artform, to increase and exchange expertise among local producers, and to facilitate cooperation among the member institutions. OperaNorge’s ambitions are in harmony with the Norwegian Parliament’s stated goals for opera; the association works to demonstrate, refine and implement the government’s directives on a national level. On behalf of its members, OperaNorge seeks to influence politicians to improve the conditions for opera in Norway. OperaNorge has 19 members. Among them are The Norwegian National Opera & Ballet, regional and district opera companies, and a number of other organisations that facilitate interaction between professionals, amateurs and volunteers.
Association of Music Theatres Russia
The Assosiation of the Music Theatres was established in 2004. It is the organization for professional music theatre companies from Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States and currently includes over 55 member companies. The main goal of the Association is to create common cultural space, unite linked-minded theatres and help members in reaching new creative and artistic frontiers.
Ópera XXI
On February 2005 the Association of Theatres, Festivals and Permanent Spain Operas in Spain was founded under the name of Ópera XXI. Since its formation they had a clear goal of achieving an open and collaborating cultural model, adapted to the 21st century audiences as well as needs. The association –representing the global opera panorama – acts as a mediator between official, national, private and international entities. This helps to be on a privileged position when it comes to set new lyric seasons as well as festivals in constant evolution
Opera UK
Opera UK is in the process of launching as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, with a determination to help future-proof the UK's opera sector and improve its sustainability. Opera UK is set to become a responsive sector support organisation which will evolve and develop according to the needs of the country's growing opera community.