Opera Philadelphia
Opera Philadelphia is a 1975-founded Philadelphia nonprofit opera company presenting traditional and contemporary productions across four city venues, paired with extensive education, community, and new-works programs funded through ticketing, philanthropy, and corporate sponsorships.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1975
- HeadquartersPhiladelphia, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Opera Philadelphia does
Opera Philadelphia is a nonprofit performing arts organization founded in 1975 and headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, that presents opera productions spanning traditional repertoire and contemporary American works. The company performs at the historic Academy of Music, the oldest opera house in the United States still used for its original purpose, alongside the Forrest Theatre, the Suzanne Roberts Theatre, and the Miller Theater. Its core offering is live opera, supported by an extensive audience-development and education ecosystem that includes Backstage Pass (high school technical theater training), the K-8 Residency Program, Nexus Summer Camp, Opera on the Spot, the Dress Rehearsal Program for 5th-12th graders, the Community Voices Choir for seniors and caregivers, and VIVACE for adults aged 21-45.
Opera Philadelphia firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Opera Philadelphia
- Legal name
- Opera Philadelphia
- Website
- https://operaphila.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1975
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Opera Philadelphia is a 1975-founded Philadelphia nonprofit opera company presenting traditional and contemporary productions across four city venues, paired with extensive education, community, and new-works programs funded through ticketing, philanthropy, and corporate sponsorships.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Opera Philadelphia industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Performing Arts
- NAICS
- Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (71111), Performing Arts Companies (7111), Other Performing Arts Companies (711190)
- SIC
- Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Opera & Operetta (MPAGABAF)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Theater & Performing Arts Venue Operations (Playhouses, Opera Houses) (MPAGALAB), Touring Theatre Productions (MPAGABAC), VIP Hospitality & Client Entertainment (Boxes, Suites, Hosted Experiences) (MPAGAHAG)
Keywords
Where Opera Philadelphia is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Philadelphia
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices4 records
Markets served
Opera Philadelphia business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Ticket Sales: Single tickets, subscriptions, and Opera Pass memberships for performances at Academy of Music, Forrest Theatre, and Suzanne Roberts Theatre. Pick Your Price model allows patrons to pay what they can.
- Corporate Sponsorship: Season sponsors (Comcast NBCUniversal as Platinum Partner), Corporate Council members at various tiers (Gold, Silver, Bronze), and in-kind sponsors (Cunningham Piano, Yamaha). Provides visibility, entertainment, and branding opportunities.
- Individual Giving: Donor Circle ($100-$2,499), Patron Program ($2,500-$9,999), General Director's Council ($10,000-$24,999), Chairman's Council ($25,000+), and Leadership Circle ($100,000+). Includes benefits like dress rehearsal access, artist meet-and-greets, and recognition.
- Planned Giving: Legato Society planned giving program including bequests, charitable gift annuities, retirement plan assets, and other legacy gift vehicles.
- Foundation Grants: Mellon Foundation funding for Composer in Residence program; William Penn Foundation support for ACCESS Program; various institutional foundation grants.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Pick Your Price - Any seat starting at $11 |
| Subscription | Monthly | Opera Pass - Subscription access |
| Subscription | Annual | Season Subscriptions - Academy Series and Flex Package |
| Subscription | Annual | VIVACE Young Friends Membership |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | ACCESS Card Discount |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Rush Tickets |
| Subscription | Annual | Individual Donor Tiers |
| Subscription | Annual | VIVACE Membership Tiers |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Gift Certificates |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Opera on the Spot Programs |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels8 records
Opera Philadelphia product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Opera Philadelphia produces and presents live opera performances spanning traditional repertoire to world premiere contemporary American works at the Academy of Music, Miller Theater, Forrest Theatre, and Suzanne Roberts Theatre. The organization operates an integrated ecosystem of ticketing products (Pick Your Price, Opera Pass, Season Subscriptions), education and community programs (Backstage Pass, Residency Program, Community Voices Choir, Dress Rehearsal Program, Nexus Summer Camp, Cross-Choral Training), and artist development programs (Emerging Artists, Composer in Residence).
Product overview
Opera Philadelphia is an opera company that presents a diverse portfolio of productions ranging from traditional repertoire (Verdi, Puccini, Mozart) to world premiere new works. The core offering consists of live opera performances at multiple Philadelphia venues. Supporting this are ticketing products including Pick Your Price (choose-your-own-price tickets starting at $11), Opera Pass (early access subscription), and Subscription Packages. The company also operates an ecosystem of education and community programs: Backstage Pass (technical theater training), Residency Program (student opera creation), Opera on the Spot (mobile performances), Nexus Summer Camp, Cross-Choral Training, Community Voices Choir, and Sounds of Learning Dress Rehearsal Program. Artist development programs include Emerging Artists and Composer in Residence. VIVACE serves as the young friends community. An official mobile app powered by InstantEncore enables ticket access and event browsing. Gift certificates and group sales round out the commercial offerings.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Opera Productions Live opera performances spanning traditional repertoire to world premiere contemporary American works, staged at the Academy of Music, Miller Theater, Forrest Theatre, and Suzanne Roberts Theatre. Open to individual ticket buyers, subscribers, and group attendees.
- Pick Your Price Tickets Pay-what-you-want ticketing option starting at $11 per ticket, lowering the financial barrier to live opera attendance for individual consumers.
- Opera Pass Subscription pass providing access to opera productions throughout the season for individual consumers seeking recurring opera attendance.
- Season Subscriptions Multi-opera subscription packages with multiple pricing tiers, enabling attendees to purchase a season of productions at preferred price points.
- VIVACE Young Friends Membership Membership community for young professionals offering age-targeted programming, food and drink events, and discounted ticket offers to foster younger opera audiences.
- Gift Certificates Gift certificates redeemable toward opera tickets, subscriptions, and other Opera Philadelphia offerings for individual gift purchasers.
- Backstage Pass Education program serving grades 3-12 with integrated pre- and post-performance classroom curriculum and mainstage performance attendance, designed for school groups and teachers.
- Residency Program Classroom-based arts education offering weekly teaching artist visits to schools, providing sustained opera-based learning experiences for K-12 students.
- Opera on the Spot Mobile, interactive opera performances brought directly to schools, community centers, and neighborhood venues, designed to introduce new audiences to opera.
- Nexus Summer Camp Summer camp for youth where students produce and perform an opera, providing hands-on performance and production experience for young participants.
- Cross-Choral Training Free online course teaching choral technique across genres, available to students and community members.
- Community Voices Choir Community choir program offering group singing experiences open to community members interested in vocal performance.
- Dress Rehearsal Program Free field trip program offering school groups attendance at opera dress rehearsals with pre-visit classroom curriculum preparation.
- Emerging Artists Program Artist development program supporting singers and arts professionals at the start of their careers through training, mentorship, and performance opportunities with the mainstage company.
- Composer in Residence Program Comprehensive residency program supporting a composer in the creation of new operatic works, supported by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, and recognized as the first program of its kind at a U.S. opera company.
Quantifiable outcome
- ACCESS Card provides $2 tickets to low-income/disability patrons, up to 4 people per card
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Opera Philadelphia
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments9 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Opera Philadelphia technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration1 record
Feature3 records
Opera Philadelphia partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
37 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- American Friends Service CommitteecoreGala partnership in April 2027 honoring AFSC's 110th anniversary and Nobel Peace Prize anniversary.
- Temple UniversitycoreMultifaceted collaboration including new opera recordings and student entrepreneurship programs.
- Comcast NBCUniversalcorePlatinum Season Sponsor providing corporate sponsorship and visibility. Part of Corporate Council with premium benefits including VIP tickets, donor lounge access, and exclusive networking experiences.
- Cunningham PianocoreOfficial Piano Service Provider as part of Corporate Council.
- YamahacoreOfficial Piano provider as part of Corporate Council.
- ChubbcoreGold Partner level Corporate Council member.
- IBXcoreCorporate Council member.
- PECOcoreCorporate Council member (Silver Partner).
- UHSminorCorporate Council member.
- KPK DevelopmentminorCorporate Council member.
- Ninja TransfersminorCorporate Council member.
- RushOrderTeesminorCorporate Council member (Bronze Partner).
- Ballard Spahr LLPminorCorporate Council donor.
- Termini Brothers BakeryminorCorporate Council donor.
- Pan American Charter SchoolminorPartner school for 20-week Residency Program.
- Crossroads Academy at Hunting ParkminorPartner school for 20-week Residency Program.
- Penn Memory CentercoreHealthcare partner for Community Voices Choir program serving individuals with cognitive decline and caregivers.
- Curtis Institute of MusiccoreMusic education partner for Community Voices Choir program.
- The Salvation Army Kroc CentercoreCommunity partner hosting Community Voices Choir program on Fridays 1-2pm.
- FringeArtsminorPartner for Backstage Pass technical theater program.
- IATSEminorPartner for Backstage Pass technical theater program.
- MADE Fashion InstituteminorPartner for Backstage Pass technical theater program.
- Philadelphia Scenic WorksminorPartner for Backstage Pass program with site visit.
- Philadelphia Theater CompanyminorPartner venue for Backstage Pass show visits.
- PhillyCAMminorPartner for Backstage Pass technical training.
- Philadelphia Ballet (Let's Dance)corePartner for Nexus Summer Camp combining opera and ballet programming.
- Art-ReachcoreACCESS Card program partner providing $2 tickets to low-income/disability patrons.
- The Barnes FoundationcoreCo-presented The Wake World and Glass Handel events. Site-specific performance partner.
- The Apollo TheatercoreCo-commissioned We Shall Not Be Moved.
- Hackney EmpirecoreCo-commissioned We Shall Not Be Moved and Elizabeth Cree.
- The Santa Fe OperacoreCo-commissioned Cold Mountain and Oscar.
- Minnesota OperacoreCo-commissioned Silent Night and co-produced Cold Mountain.
- Beth Morrison ProjectscoreCo-commissioned Breaking the Waves.
- Carnegie HallcoreCo-commissioned Cycles of My Being.
- Lyric Unlimited (Lyric Opera of Chicago)coreCo-commissioned Cycles of My Being.
- Philadelphia Museum of ArtcoreCo-presented War Stories site-specific double-bill.
- OPERA AmericacoreProfessional Company Member of OPERA America.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Opera Philadelphia competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Minnesota Opera: Mid-sized U.S. opera company with a track record of contemporary commissions (Silent Night, Cold Mountain co-production with Opera Philadelphia). Directly comparable in scale, programming philosophy, and co-commissioning activity.
- Lyric Opera of Chicago: One of the largest U.S. opera companies, comparable in scale and programming breadth, and an active co-commissioning partner with Opera Philadelphia (Cycles of My Being via Lyric Unlimited). Direct peer in artist development, contemporary commissions, and subscription opera operations.
- LA Opera: Major U.S. regional opera company with comparable season programming, contemporary commissions, and education/community outreach. Comparable scale and direct overlap in target donor and patron demographics on the West Coast.
- San Francisco Opera: Major U.S. opera company of significantly larger scale, with comparable season-based subscription model, education programs, and contemporary commissions. A relevant benchmark for what a scaled-up Opera Philadelphia could aspire to operationally.
- Santa Fe Opera: Renowned U.S. opera company known for new works and festival-style programming. Direct co-commissioning peer (Cold Mountain, Oscar) and comparable in its emphasis on contemporary American opera alongside traditional repertoire.
- Houston Grand Opera: Major U.S. regional opera company with comparable budget scale and a strong reputation for both traditional repertoire and new American works. Directly comparable in terms of season programming structure, education programs, and corporate sponsorship model.
- Pittsburgh Opera: Mid-sized regional opera company operating in a comparable post-industrial U.S. metro market with similar funding model (corporate, foundation, individual giving). Direct competitor for talent, donors, and audience attention within the mid-Atlantic/Northeast regional opera ecosystem.
Others
- Curtis Institute of Music: Premier Philadelphia-based music conservatory and active programmatic partner (Community Voices Choir). Not a direct competitor but a closely adjacent institution in the Philadelphia music ecosystem, sharing both geography and a pipeline of emerging vocal talent that flows into Opera Philadelphia's Emerging Artists Program.
Emerging players
- Beth Morrison Projects: Independent producer specializing in contemporary and new opera, and an active co-commissioning partner with Opera Philadelphia (Breaking the Waves). Comparable in artistic focus on new American works but operates as a producer rather than a full producing company with its own venue and season.
Broad incumbents
- Metropolitan Opera: Largest and most established opera company in North America. Operates globally recognized brand, massive endowment, and a hybrid in-house/cinema distribution model. Indirect competitive pressure through streaming reach and donor mindshare, but operates at a fundamentally different scale.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Opera Philadelphia social profiles
Digital presenceOpera Philadelphia financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Opera Philadelphia leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles11 records
Opera Philadelphia funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Opera Philadelphia M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Opera Philadelphia
What does Opera Philadelphia do?
Opera Philadelphia produces and presents live opera performances spanning traditional repertoire to world premiere contemporary American works at the Academy of Music, Miller Theater, Forrest Theatre, and Suzanne Roberts Theatre. The organization operates an integrated ecosystem of ticketing products (Pick Your Price, Opera Pass, Season Subscriptions), education and community programs (Backstage Pass, Residency Program, Community Voices Choir, Dress Rehearsal Program, Nexus Summer Camp, Cross-Choral Training), and artist development programs (Emerging Artists, Composer in Residence).
Is Opera Philadelphia a public or private company?
Opera Philadelphia is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Opera Philadelphia founded?
Opera Philadelphia was founded in 1975. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Opera Philadelphia based?
Opera Philadelphia is headquartered in Philadelphia, United States, in the North America region.
How does Opera Philadelphia make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Ticket Sales are the primary driver. The others are corporate Sponsorship, individual Giving, planned Giving and foundation Grants.
Who are Opera Philadelphia's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Minnesota Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago, LA Opera, San Francisco Opera, Santa Fe Opera, Houston Grand Opera and Pittsburgh Opera. Curtis Institute of Music is listed as an others. Beth Morrison Projects is listed as an emerging player. Metropolitan Opera is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Opera Philadelphia have an API?
No public API is recorded for Opera Philadelphia.
What industry is Opera Philadelphia in?
Opera Philadelphia's product category is Performing Arts. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAGABAF, Opera & Operetta, with a secondary code of MPAGALAB, Theater & Performing Arts Venue Operations (Playhouses, Opera Houses). Its NAICS code is 71111 and its SIC code is 7900.