What Cincinnati Opera does

Cincinnati Opera is a nonprofit performing arts organization founded in 1920 and headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio. It is the second-oldest opera company in the United States, presenting its 106th anniversary Summer Festival season in 2026. The company produces grand opera at the historic Cincinnati Music Hall's Springer Auditorium, with additional programming in the Wilks Studio, and operates a calendar of community and educational events year-round including Opera in the Park, Opera Goes to Church, Opera Raps lecture series, and Studio Sessions cabaret performances. The organization serves a broad audience from first-time opera attendees to dedicated connoisseurs, with explicit outreach to young professionals, students, and underrepresented communities.

Its core product offering is a seasonal roster of mainstage productions — for 2026, Salome, Carmen, Orpheus and Euridice, and the world premiere of Lalovavi — alongside the ongoing Opera Fusion: New Works joint venture with the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM), which has hosted 34 workshops for 28 operas since 2011. The Black Opera Project, launched February 2024 with an approximately $5 million commitment, commissions three new operas by Black creators (Lalovavi in 2026, Good Trouble: The Boy from Troy in 2027, and Good Bones in 2028), funded in part by a $1.3 million Andrew W. Mellon Foundation grant.

Revenue is generated through ticket sales (individual, subscription, and group), individual and corporate donations, foundation grants, and ancillary channels including Production Rentals (selling/renting existing productions such as La Boheme and Tosca to other opera companies). Pricing ranges from $60 three-show subscription packages to higher-tier individual performance tickets, with subscriber benefits including priority seating, free exchanges, and up to 15% additional savings. The company distributes tickets through its own box office, website, group sales, and venue-based walk-up sales, and partners with 90.9 WGUC for media broadcast reach.

Name

Cincinnati Opera

Legal name

Cincinnati Opera Association

Website

https://cincinnatiopera.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1920

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Cincinnati Opera is the second-oldest opera company in the United States (founded 1920), presenting a seasonal Summer Festival of grand opera at Cincinnati Music Hall alongside community programs, new opera development through the Opera Fusion partnership with CCM, and The Black Opera Project commissioning initiative.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Opera and Performing Arts

NAICS

Performing Arts Companies (7111), Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (711110), Other Performing Arts Companies (711190), Musical Groups and Artists (711130)

akta.pro primary industry

Opera & Operetta (MPAGABAF)

Keywords

• Opera performances
• Grand opera productions
• Summer opera festival
• Opera education programs
• Opera production rentals

Headquarters

HQ city

Cincinnati

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Revenue generated from individual performance tickets, season subscriptions, and group tickets. The company offers three-show packages starting at $60 and various subscription tiers with perks including priority seating and free exchanges.
2. Donations and Grants: Cincinnati Opera receives significant funding through individual donations, corporate giving, planned giving, and foundation grants. Notable grants include a $1.3 million grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation to support commissioning new works celebrating Black stories.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Cincinnati Opera presents a seasonal roster of grand opera productions at Cincinnati Music Hall, including world premieres, intimate cabaret-style Studio Sessions, and the launch of The Black Opera Project commissioning three new operas by Black creators. The organization also operates community programs (Opera in the Park, Opera Goes to Church, Underscore), educational initiatives, the Opera Fusion: New Works developmental program with CCM, and rents production sets and costumes to other opera companies.

Product overview

Cincinnati Opera is a performing arts organization offering a diverse portfolio of opera productions and community programs. Its core offerings include mainstage productions at Cincinnati Music Hall featuring grand operas (Salome, Carmen, Orpheus and Euridice) and world premieres (Lalovavi). The company runs Studio Sessions (intimate cabaret-style performances), Opera Fusion: New Works (new opera development with CCM), and The Black Opera Project (a $5M initiative for three commissioned operas by Black creators). Additional offerings include ticket insurance, season subscriptions, Opera Raps educational series, Opera in the Park free concerts, and production rentals for other opera companies.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The Black Opera Project: A groundbreaking three-opera commissioning initiative engaging Black creators to develop new works celebrating Black stories.
• Opera Fusion: New Works
• Studio Sessions

Products and services

• Salome Grand opera production of Richard Strauss's psychological thriller about obsession, power, and prophecy, performed at Cincinnati Music Hall's Springer Auditorium as part of the 2026 Summer Festival.
• Carmen Grand opera production of Georges Bizet's opera about desire, freedom, and fatal choices, performed at Cincinnati Music Hall as part of the 2026 Summer Festival.
• Orpheus and Euridice Intimate chamber opera retelling of the Orpheus myth by Ricky Ian Gordon, performed at Cincinnati Music Hall's Wilks Studio as part of the 2026 Summer Festival.
• Lalovavi World premiere Afrofuturist grand opera by Kevin Day (composer) and Tifara Brown (librettist), commissioned by Cincinnati Opera as part of The Black Opera Project.
• Studio Sessions Intimate, artist-curated cabaret-style performance series in Music Hall's Wilks Studio featuring diverse musical genres from opera to jazz to popular song.
• The Black Opera Project Three-opera commissioning initiative engaging Black creators to develop new works celebrating Black American experience, with approximately $5 million total commitment; Lalovavi (2026), Good Trouble: The Boy from Troy (2027), and Good Bones (2028).
• Opera Fusion: New Works Joint creative venture with University of Cincinnati CCM fostering development of new American operas through 10-day workshops, composers and librettist resources, and public readings; has hosted 34 workshops for 28 operas since 2011.
• Opera Raps Four-part educational lecture series exploring the history, controversy, and personalities behind works featured during the summer festival, led by Artistic Director Evans Mirageas with guest artists.
• Opera in the Park Free outdoor community concert featuring opera and musical theater favorites performed by Cincinnati Opera artists, chorus, and the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra at Washington Park.
• Ticket Insurance Optional insurance providing free ticket exchanges and full refunds under specific conditions for ticket holders unable to attend performances.
• Production Rentals Rental and sale of opera productions and their associated scenery, costumes, and designs to other opera companies, including La Boheme, La Calisto, Don Giovanni, Tosca, and Madame Butterfly.
• Good Trouble: The Boy from Troy World premiere opera inspired by U.S. Congressman John Lewis, with music by Maria Thompson Corley, libretto by Diana Solomon Glover, and stage direction by Timothy Douglas; second of three operas in The Black Opera Project, premiering Summer 2027.
• Good Bones World premiere opera by Pulitzer Prize-winning creators Michael Abels (composer) and James Ijames (librettist); third and final opera of The Black Opera Project, premiering Summer 2028.

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core, strategic and minor.

• University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2011Opera Fusion: New Works (OF:NW) is a joint creative partnership launched in 2011 to foster the development of new American operas. Co-directed by Robin Guarino (CCM) and Evans Mirageas (Cincinnati Opera), the program offers composers and librettists 10-day workshops utilizing facilities, personnel, and talent from both organizations. To date, the program has hosted 34 workshops for 28 operas. The program was extended for three additional years (through 2028) thanks to an anonymous gift. Notable works developed include Fellow Travelers, Eurydice, Champion, and Blind Injustice.
• 90.9 WGUCstrategicGTM or Marketing PartnerCincinnati's classical public radio station serves as media partner for Cincinnati Opera's seasons. Broadcasts select performances on Sunday evenings, extending reach to radio audience. Station identified as media partner and general season supporter.
• Metropolitan Opera/Lincoln Center Theater New Works ProgramstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-venture between Metropolitan Opera and Lincoln Center Theater that nurtures, promotes, and stages new opera and music theater works. Commissioned The Highlands opera by Carlos Simon, Lynn Nottage, and Ruby Aiyo Gerber.
• Opera AmericaminorOthersNational service organization for opera. Cincinnati Opera is a proud member, providing access to industry resources, standards, and professional network.
• Cincinnati Symphony OrchestracoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary orchestral partner for mainstage opera productions. Symphony musicians perform for grand opera productions at Music Hall, providing full orchestral accompaniment.
• Cincinnati BalletminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDance company that has partnered on productions including Don Giovanni, La Traviata, and Paul McCartney's Liverpool Oratorio, combining opera and ballet performances.
• Cincinnati Opera Board AssociatesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSubsidiary of the board of trustees composed of young professionals who support and promote Cincinnati Opera, serving as ambassadors to a younger demographic.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Lyric Opera of Chicago: Major U.S. regional opera company producing grand opera seasons with full orchestral accompaniment; highly comparable operating model to Cincinnati Opera though at larger scale and budget.
• Houston Grand Opera: Mid-size-to-large American opera company with a multi-production season, new-works commissioning program (HOH/HGO Co-production), and similar mix of community outreach and grand opera.
• Santa Fe Opera: Summer-festival opera model with internationally renowned productions and world premieres; very analogous seasonal operating structure to Cincinnati Opera's June-August summer festival.
• Opera Theatre of Saint Louis: Spring-festival opera company with a strong new-works commissioning track record and similar scale, regional footprint, and commitment to American opera development.
• Minnesota Opera: Regional U.S. opera company with a comparable season structure, new-works initiatives (New Works Initiative), and community programming mix.
• Pittsburgh Opera: Mid-size American regional opera company of similar scale and operating model, presenting a season of grand opera alongside education and community programs.
• Dallas Opera: Regional American opera company with a multi-production season, comparable artistic ambition, and similar fundraising/patron model.
• Glimmerglass Festival: Summer festival opera company producing a focused season of grand and chamber works; structurally analogous seasonal model and scale to Cincinnati Opera.

Broad incumbents

• Metropolitan Opera: Largest U.S. opera company and a partner of Cincinnati Opera via the Met/Lincoln Center New Works Program; broader portfolio with global broadcast reach makes it an incumbent rather than direct peer.

Others

• OPERA America: National service organization for opera and Cincinnati Opera's industry association member; provides industry standards, advocacy, and peer benchmarking for member opera companies.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/cincinnatiopera
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/CincinnatiOpera
• Facebookfacebook.com/cincinnatiopera
• Instagraminstagram.com/cincinnatiopera

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors2 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Cincinnati Opera