Many aspiring opera singers are drawn to New York City for auditions and singing opportunities, but what if I told you that Los Angeles has a bumping opera scene, too? Below is a guide to the local opera companies and opportunities in the area. You may be surprised at the opportunities L.A. has to offer - and who knows, you may even find your next gig there!

LA Opera

LA Opera is the largest and most prestigious opera company in the area. Not only is Plácido Domingo the general director, but he often performs in the operas. The company usually produces six mainstage operas each season, and the season always includes at least one contemporary opera. This company also puts on other smaller performances, including new operas and recitals with popular professional singers from its roster, like Renee Fleming.

For aspiring singers: Younger opera singers can audition for the chorus, outreach program, or young artist program. The company will often utilize their choristers and outreach singers for other singing opportunities.

Long Beach Opera

Long Beach Opera is known for producing more modern and unusual operas. Their mission is to expose audiences to “new and rarely performed works.” The company usually performs four main operas per season and will host other smaller performances as well.

For aspiring singers: Long Beach Opera sometimes utilizes younger singers as well as well-known performers. Locals can audition for both roles and chorus parts, and they also have an outreach program.

Pacific Opera Project

Pacific Opera Project, also known as POP, is a company to watch in the Los Angeles area. The company is known for productions that put classic operas in modern settings, such as La Bohème: AKA “The Hipsters”, Abduction from the Seraglio: A Star Trek Parody, and The Barber of Seville: Figaro Comes to Hollywood. Performances are often at different and interesting venues around the city, and they sell out frequently. POP's mission is to present approachable and fun interpretations of opera to attract a wider audience.

For aspiring singers: Pacific Opera Project holds auditions every winter in both Los Angeles and New York City. They celebrate unknown singers and use large choruses.

Center Stage Opera

Center Stage Opera is another company located in The Valley that produces one to two operas per season. They also hold competitions, an annual Broadway showcase, and host other smaller performances. Their yearly competition even has a high school age division.

For aspiring singers: Center Stage Opera holds auditions once per year for the season. The company encourages all ages and abilities to audition. It is certainly a company to pursue as a singer new to the area.

The Industry

The Industry is L.A.’s most innovative and experimental opera company. Their aim is to “expand the definition of opera.” Each performance is unique and different than any other opera production. The Industry’s more recent works included city-wide performances on the streets of L.A., which utilized many singers and instrumentalists. Also check out their original opera, Hopscotch, which was a mobile opera for 24 cars. The audience members were driven around in 24 different cars with singers in each car to sing chapters of the story. Very innovative!

For aspiring singers: The Industry is very welcoming to new singers, and they aren’t afraid to throw you into the mix! They typically audition once per year, and they are worth looking into, especially if you are interested in innovative, modern opera.

Repertory Opera Company

The Repertory Opera Company, or R.O.C., is located east of Los Angeles. They produce at least one full opera per year, but often do two to three operas each season. In between each opera production, the company performs themed concerts of opera scenes and arias. There are always performances happening, and the productions are upbeat and fun.

For aspiring singers: Repertory Opera Company holds company auditions and they attend the SCON (Southern California Opera Network) auditions twice a year. The SCON auditions are a great way to audition for multiple L.A. opera companies at the same time.

Other local opera companies to note include the Pasadena Opera, Celestial Opera Company, Independent Opera Company, Vineyard Touring Company, and the Los Angeles Metropolitan Opera. In the L.A. opera scene, new companies pop up constantly, and since the scene is small and very collaborative, it is easy to jump from one performance to the next - even throughout the summer. If you are interested in the L.A. opera scene, you will find that it doesn’t take long to start performing in the area.