The Dallas Opera
The Dallas Opera is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1957 that produces a four-opera mainstage season, family shows, and community outreach at the Winspear Opera House in Dallas, serving patrons, students, corporate sponsors, and 87,000+ community members annually.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1957
- HeadquartersDallas, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What The Dallas Opera does
The Dallas Opera is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit performing arts organization founded in 1957 and headquartered at the Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House in the Dallas Arts District. It produces a four-production mainstage season (the 2026/2027 season features The Elixir of Love, The Cunning Little Vixen, Turandot with a new ending by Christopher Tin, and Lohengrin), supplemented by a family show series, the Robert E. and Jean Ann Titus Family Recital Series, free community performances via the OperaTruck mobile program, and free outdoor simulcasts at venues such as Klyde Warren Park and AT&T Stadium. The organization engages 87,000+ community members annually and operates artist development programs including the Linda and Mitch Hart Institute for Women Conductors (the only program of its kind globally, launched in 2015), the biennial Dallas Opera National Vocal Competition, the Lone Star Vocal Competition, and the Peak Fellow conducting fellowship.
Revenue mechanics span five streams: ticket sales (single tickets $19-$289; family tickets $5; student tickets $15 with valid ID; group sales for 10+), season subscriptions (starting at $98 for four productions with priority seating), individual donations, corporate sponsorships (American Airlines, Lexus, Texas Instruments Foundation, and others), and community programming. Distribution operates across a direct-to-consumer online ticketing platform (secure.dallasopera.org), a phone-based box office, on-premise box office at the Winspear, and a global digital streaming arm ("The Dallas Opera Digital") distributing full opera productions on YouTube plus radio broadcasts via WRR Concert Hall. The organization completed its largest-ever fundraising campaign in 2025 ($54.5M including a $25M O'Donnell Foundation challenge grant), and is undergoing a CEO transition with David Lomelí succeeding Ian Derrer effective June 1, 2026.
The Dallas Opera firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Dallas Opera
- Legal name
- The Dallas Opera
- Website
- https://dallasopera.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1957
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- The Dallas Opera is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1957 that produces a four-opera mainstage season, family shows, and community outreach at the Winspear Opera House in Dallas, serving patrons, students, corporate sponsors, and 87,000+ community members annually.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Dallas Opera industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Opera / Performing Arts
- NAICS
- Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (711110), Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (71111), Performing Arts Companies (7111), Other Performing Arts Companies (71119)
- SIC
- Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Opera & Operetta (MPAGABAF)
Keywords
Where The Dallas Opera is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Dallas
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
The Dallas Opera business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- Ticket Sales: Individual tickets for mainstage operas, concerts, recitals, and family performances sold online, by phone, and at box office
- Season Subscriptions: Multi-performance subscription packages providing best seats at best prices with priority access
- Individual Donations: Tax-deductible contributions from individuals supporting general operations, endowment, and specific programs
- Corporate Partnerships: Sponsorship revenue from corporate partners including American Airlines, Lexus, Texas Instruments, and others
- Group Sales: Discounted tickets for groups of 10 or more for mainstage and family performances
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | One time | Student Tickets - $15 per ticket |
| Unit Pricing | One time | Single Tickets - Range from $19 to $289 |
| Subscription | Annual | Season Subscriptions - Starting at $98 |
| Unit Pricing | One time | Family Performance Tickets - $5 |
| Transaction based/ take rate | One time | Group Sales - Discounted rates |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels5 records
The Dallas Opera product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Dallas Opera produces and presents full-scale opera performances, concerts, recitals, and family shows at the Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House in the Dallas Arts District. It complements live performance with a digital streaming program, free community outreach via the OperaTruck mobile program, and an artist development ecosystem including the Hart Institute for Women Conductors and vocal competitions.
Product overview
The Dallas Opera is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit performing arts organization presenting world-class opera performances at the Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House in Dallas. The company operates as a single unified performing arts organization offering four mainstage opera productions per season (The Elixir of Love, The Cunning Little Vixen, Turandot, Lohengrin for 2026/2027), supplemented by concerts and recitals, family shows, and community outreach programs. The digital arm—The Dallas Opera Digital—provides streaming of full opera productions via YouTube. The organization's artist development ecosystem includes the Linda and Mitch Hart Institute for Women Conductors, the biennial National Vocal Competition, the Lone Star Vocal Competition, and the Peak Fellow fellowship. Community engagement is delivered through the OperaTruck mobile performances, Kids Opera Boot Camp, and free community pop-up performances. The company also offers educational resources through Opera 101 and TDO Connections diversity initiatives.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Mainstage Opera Performances Full-scale opera productions featuring world-class singers, orchestra, and elaborate staging at the Winspear Opera House, with four productions each season for opera enthusiasts and cultural patrons.
- The Elixir of Love Donizetti opera presented as part of the 2026/2027 Season with performances Oct 9-17, 2026, for general opera audiences.
- The Cunning Little Vixen Leoš Janáček opera presented as part of the 2026/2027 Season, a new-to-Dallas production for opera audiences.
- Turandot Giacomo Puccini opera with a new ending by Christopher Tin, presented as part of the 2026/2027 Season featuring the Dallas premiere of the new ending.
- Lohengrin Richard Wagner opera presented as part of the 2026/2027 Season as a new production for opera enthusiasts.
- Concerts & Recitals Recital series including the Robert E. and Jean Ann Titus Family Recital Series featuring renowned international artists for opera and recital audiences.
- Family Shows Family-friendly opera productions including The Little Prince and The Bremen Town Musicians designed for young audiences and families.
- The Dallas Opera Digital Digital streaming platform offering full opera streams, videos, and WRR Concert Hall broadcasts for global online audiences.
- The Little Prince (Family Opera) Family opera production based on Antoine de Saint-Exupéry's children's story, created for young audiences and families.
- The Bremen Town Musicians Family opera for budding music lovers, an operatic version of The Town Musicians of Bremen, for young audiences.
- The Linda and Mitch Hart Institute for Women Conductors Training program for women conductors launched in 2015 to address gender imbalance on opera podiums, the only program of its kind in the industry.
- The Dallas Opera National Vocal Competition Biennial vocal competition featuring cash prizes and performance opportunities at the Winspear Opera House for aspiring opera singers.
- Lone Star Vocal Competition Vocal competition for Texas-based singers competing for cash prizes with People's Choice voting.
- Season Subscriptions Subscription packages for the 2026/2027 Season offering best seats at best prices starting at $98, with priority seating and multi-performance access.
- Student Tickets $15 student tickets for eligible performances at the Winspear Opera House, available online or as rush tickets at the box office with valid student ID.
- OperaTruck Mobile Performances Mobile opera presentations bringing free 30-40 minute family-friendly productions to community locations throughout Greater Dallas.
- Opera 101 Educational Program Educational program designed to help audiences expand their opera knowledge and maximize their opera experience.
- Kids Opera Boot Camp Summer program for children to learn about opera and the performing arts.
- Maria Callas Debut Artist of the Year Award Annual award given to a single performer each season in recognition of a particularly memorable and outstanding company debut, inspired by Maria Callas's legacy.
- Martha R. and Preston A. Peak Fellow Seasonal fellowship for conductors, an extension of the Hart Institute for Women Conductors.
- Full Opera Streams (Digital) On-demand streaming of recorded opera performances available seasonally via YouTube, including Così fan tutte (July 2026), Rigoletto (August 2026), The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, Das Rheingold, ELEKTRA, and LA TRAVIATA.
- WRR Concert Hall Radio Broadcasts Radio broadcasts of Dallas Opera performances distributed via WRR Concert Hall to listening audiences.
- TDO Connections Diversity Initiative Program exploring representation in opera through partnerships with organizations including Dallas Truth, Racial Healing & Transformation, Asian Opera Alliance, and Black Opera Alliance.
Quantifiable outcome
- 87,000+ community members engaged annually
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use The Dallas Opera
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
The Dallas Opera technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
The Dallas Opera partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and flagship.
- Dallas Truth, Racial Healing & TransformationcorePartnership for TDO Connections program exploring representation in opera through community dialogue
- Asian Opera AlliancecoreStrategic partnership exploring Asian representation in opera as part of TDO Connections initiative
- Black Opera AlliancecorePartnership focused on Black representation in opera through the TDO Connections program
- Musume RestaurantminorRestaurant partner sponsoring 3D glasses for Sunken Garden production
- OPERA AmericacoreIndustry association providing Innovation Grant support for new productions like Sunken Garden
- American AirlinesflagshipOfficial airline of The Dallas Opera - major corporate sponsor supporting operations and providing travel assistance for international artists
- LexusflagshipOfficial vehicle of The Dallas Opera - corporate sponsor providing transportation support for company operations
- TACAcoreArts advocacy organization providing production support for Dallas Opera performances
- The Dallas FoundationcorePresenting sponsor for stadium simulcast events including AT&T Stadium screenings
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
The Dallas Opera competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- LA Opera: West Coast opera company of similar scale presenting multiple mainstage productions per season with comparable repertoire, sponsorship mix, and educational outreach programs. Comparable on operating model and audience development strategy.
- Atlanta Opera: Mid-size U.S. opera company presenting a comparable mainstage season with a similar mix of classic and contemporary repertoire. Directly comparable on scale, mission, and community programming model.
- San Francisco Opera: Major U.S. opera company presenting a comparable fall-through-spring season of grand opera at the War Memorial Opera House, with similar reliance on corporate sponsorships, foundation grants, and subscription ticket revenue. Comparable in artistic ambition and audience scale.
- Lyric Opera of Chicago: One of the largest U.S. opera companies with a similar four-to-five production mainstage season, comparable employee scale, and a mix of ticket revenue and philanthropic support. Direct peer on size, repertoire breadth, and operating model.
- Washington National Opera: Major U.S. opera company at the Kennedy Center with comparable mainstage season structure, vocal competition programming, and artist development initiatives. Highly comparable on mission, scale, and educational/community programming.
- Houston Grand Opera: Major U.S. opera company operating in Houston, Texas, presenting a multi-production mainstage season with comparable repertoire, venue scale, and reliance on corporate philanthropy in a major Texas metro market. Closely comparable as a same-state peer with overlapping donor and artist ecosystems.
- Seattle Opera: Regional U.S. opera company with a comparable multi-production mainstage season, vocal competition, and youth/family programming. Directly comparable as a similarly sized peer outside the Texas market.
Regional players
- Fort Worth Opera: Texas-based regional opera company serving the Fort Worth market with a smaller-scale season, sharing the North Texas donor pool with The Dallas Opera. Comparable as a same-state regional opera peer but materially smaller in scale and budget.
Others
- OPERA America: National service organization for the opera industry, providing grants (including The Dallas Opera's Innovation Grant for Sunken Garden), advocacy, research, and professional development. Comparable as an industry enabler and ecosystem partner rather than a direct competitor.
Broad incumbents
- Metropolitan Opera: The largest U.S. opera company and global category leader; operates a year-round season with much larger budgets, The Met Live in HD cinema broadcasts, and a global digital streaming platform. Comparable as the dominant incumbent in the same art form but materially larger in scale.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
The Dallas Opera social profiles
Digital presenceThe Dallas Opera financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Dallas Opera leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
The Dallas Opera funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds2 records
Investors2 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Dallas Opera 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 The Dallas Opera
What does The Dallas Opera do?
The Dallas Opera produces and presents full-scale opera performances, concerts, recitals, and family shows at the Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House in the Dallas Arts District. It complements live performance with a digital streaming program, free community outreach via the OperaTruck mobile program, and an artist development ecosystem including the Hart Institute for Women Conductors and vocal competitions.
Is The Dallas Opera a public or private company?
The Dallas Opera is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was The Dallas Opera founded?
The Dallas Opera was founded in 1957. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is The Dallas Opera based?
The Dallas Opera is headquartered in Dallas, United States, in the North America region.
How does The Dallas Opera make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Ticket Sales are the primary driver. The others are season Subscriptions, individual Donations, corporate Partnerships and group Sales.
Who are The Dallas Opera's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are LA Opera, Atlanta Opera, San Francisco Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Washington National Opera, Houston Grand Opera and Seattle Opera. Fort Worth Opera is listed as a regional player. OPERA America is listed as an others. Metropolitan Opera is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does The Dallas Opera have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Dallas Opera.
What industry is The Dallas Opera in?
The Dallas Opera's product category is Opera / Performing Arts. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAGABAF, Opera & Operetta. Its NAICS code is 711110 and its SIC code is 7900.