Opera Rara
Opera Rara is a UK-registered charity founded in 1970 that restores, records, performs, and promotes forgotten 19th- and early 20th-century operatic heritage. It serves opera enthusiasts, classical music collectors, donors, educational institutions, and emerging artists through studio recordings, live performances, and tiered membership programmes.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1970
- HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Opera Rara does
Opera Rara is a UK-registered charity (Charity No. 261403) founded in 1970 and headquartered in Battersea, London, that operates as a hybrid opera charity, recording label, and live performer. Its mission is to rediscover, restore, record, perform, and promote forgotten operatic heritage of the 19th and early 20th centuries. The organization's core offering is a curated catalogue of more than 60 complete opera recordings, 40+ restored forgotten operas, 50+ artist collections, and 100+ catalogue titles, including scholarly critical editions developed with musicologists such as Roger Parker. Active programmes include the multi-volume Donizetti Song Project (recording nearly 200 solo songs), the first-ever studio recording of Verdi's original 1857 Simon Boccanegra, and live productions of rare works such as Offenbach's Barkouf and Mercadante's Il campo de' crociati, performed with core orchestral partners including the Hallé and London Philharmonic Orchestra.
The organization operates with a small team (11–50 employees) led by Artistic Director Carlo Rizzi and Chief Executive Henry Little, with Honorary Artist Patron Renée Fleming and Artist Ambassadors Ermonela Jaho and Michael Spyres. Its product surface spans physical and digital recordings (CDs, ALAC/FLAC/MP3 downloads, curated 5–10 opera box sets priced £100–£250), a podcast series ('Lives in Song'), live performances at UK and international venues, the YouTube channel, and a monthly newsletter. It earns commercial revenue from direct-to-consumer recording sales and event ticketing (£18–£80), but more than 85% of annual income is derived from donors and supporters — Friends memberships (£25–£499/yr), Patron memberships (£1,000–£9,999/yr), major gifts (≥£10,000), corporate sponsorships, and the Sir Peter Moores legacy-giving programme. It does not receive government funding.
Customers and audiences segment into four groups: opera enthusiasts and classical music collectors (primary), patrons and philanthropists funding the charitable mission (primary), educational institutions including Juilliard and the National Opera Studio, and emerging artists benefiting from recording and coaching opportunities. Distribution is hybrid — direct e-commerce for recordings, venue partnerships for live performances, and free streaming via YouTube for catalogue promotion. The organization has expanded its international footprint in 2024–2025, opening collaborations with the Juilliard School, National Opera Studio, and Tosti International Singing Academy, and was named Gramophone's Label of the Year in October 2024.
Opera Rara firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Opera Rara
- Legal name
- Opera Rara
- Website
- https://opera-rara.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1970
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Opera Rara is a UK-registered charity founded in 1970 that restores, records, performs, and promotes forgotten 19th- and early 20th-century operatic heritage. It serves opera enthusiasts, classical music collectors, donors, educational institutions, and emerging artists through studio recordings, live performances, and tiered membership programmes.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Opera Rara industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Classical Music Recording & Opera Performance
- NAICS
- Other Performing Arts Companies (711190), Performing Arts Companies (7111), Musical Groups and Artists (71113)
- SIC
- Phonograph Records & Prerecorded Audio Tapes & Disks (3652)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Opera & Operetta (MPAGABAF)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Reissues, Remastering & Archive Services (MPAIAAAG), Audio Restoration & Remastering (Noise Reduction, De-Click, Re-Mix) (MPADAMAD), Theater, Musicals & Performing Arts (THAJAFAB), Performing Arts Organizations (Theater, Dance, Opera, Music) (BPAGAHAB)
Keywords
Where Opera Rara is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- London
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Opera Rara business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Donations and Membership: Opera Rara receives over 85% of annual income from donors and supporters. They offer tiered membership levels (Friends from £25-499/year, Patrons from £1,000-9,999/year) and accept major gifts of £10,000 or more. The organization also maintains a legacy giving program (Sir Peter Moores Benefactors).
- Recording and Merchandise Sales: Sale of opera recordings, artist collections, and box sets through the Opera Rara shop. Products include CDs, digital downloads, and bundled collections ranging from individual tracks to comprehensive box sets.
- Corporate Sponsorships: Corporate sponsorship opportunities for companies to gain brand visibility and demonstrate commitment to arts and heritage. Sponsors support recording and concert projects that showcase young artists.
- Event Ticketing: Revenue from live performance tickets for opera productions, salon concerts, and special events at venues including The Bridgewater Hall, Queen Elizabeth Hall, and international locations.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Individual digital tracks and single volumes |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Complete collections and box sets |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Live event tickets |
| Subscription | Annual | Friends membership (£25-499/year) |
| Subscription | Annual | Patron membership (£1,000-9,999/year) |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels7 records
Opera Rara product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Opera Rara is a UK-registered opera charity and recording label that restores, records, performs, and promotes forgotten operatic heritage of the 19th and early 20th centuries. It delivers a catalogue of 60+ complete opera recordings, the multi-volume Donizetti Song Project (~200 songs), artist-focused collections, curated box sets, the Lives in Song podcast, and live productions of rarely performed operas in partnership with leading orchestras and artists.
Product overview
Opera Rara is an opera charity, recording label, and live operatic organization that rediscoveres, restores, records, performs, and promotes the lost operatic heritage of the 19th and early 20th centuries. The company's core offerings include complete opera recordings (over 60 in their catalogue), the landmark Donizetti Song Project documenting approximately 200 unknown songs across 8 volumes, artist collections, curated boxsets, the Lives in Song podcast series, and live performances featuring rare and forgotten operas. The portfolio centers on scholarly restoration work combined with world-class musical performances.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Complete Opera Recordings
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 60 complete opera recordings in catalogue
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Opera Rara
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Opera Rara technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Opera Rara partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Hallé OrchestracoreMajor orchestral partner for opera productions. Opera Rara and Hallé team up for performances including Offenbach's Barkouf at The Bridgewater Hall and recording projects.
- London Philharmonic OrchestracoreOrchestral partner for Mercadante's Il campo de' crociati at Queen Elizabeth Hall, Southbank Centre. Orchestra conducted by Opera Rara's Artistic Director Carlo Rizzi.
- English National Opera ChoruscoreChoral partner for opera productions including Offenbach's Barkouf and Mercadante's Il campo de' crociati.
- Juilliard School - The Marcus Institute for Vocal ArtscoreNew collaboration announced for coaching sessions with Opera Rara's Artistic Director Carlo Rizzi and Artist Ambassador Michael Spyres. Joint presentation of U.S. premieres of rarely heard repertoire through collaborative piano department and singers from the Marcus Institute.
- National Opera StudiominorNew partnership bringing Opera Rara Salon Series to National Opera Studio. Artists from the studio share stage with stars from Opera Rara recordings for celebrating Offenbach performances.
- Oxford International Song FestivalminorAssociation for events including Donizetti The Song Composer talk with Roger Parker and Germán Alcántara and Anna Tilbrook concert at Holywell Music Room.
- Donizetti Opera FestivalcoreOngoing collaboration presenting Donizetti's songs and ensembles in performance. Donizetti Brunch concerts feature current and former students of the Bottega Donizetti accompanied by Giulio Zappa at Ridotto Gavazzeni, Teatro Donizetti in Bergamo.
- Tosti International Singing AcademyminorNew partnership for celebrating composer Paolo Tosti with alumni artists presenting songs by Tosti alongside works by his contemporaries at Old Royal Naval College.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Opera Rara competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Hyperion Records: Independent UK classical recording label with a deep catalogue of neglected and historical repertoire. Closest direct peer to Opera Rara in mission, scale, and catalogue approach; both specialize in restoring and recording works outside the mainstream canon.
- Chandos Records: UK-based independent classical recording label with strong orchestral partnerships (Royal Scottish National Orchestra, BBC Philharmonic). Comparable to Opera Rara in operating model — independent label partnering with orchestras to produce high-quality classical recordings.
- BIS Records: Swedish independent classical label with a focus on historically informed repertoire and high-resolution recording. Comparable niche editorial positioning and similar audience overlap with collectors of rare classical recordings.
- Harmonia Mundi: Independent classical label and distributor known for early music and historically informed repertoire. Direct peer in operating an artist-led classical label with international distribution.
- Signum Classics: UK independent classical label with vocal and chamber repertoire focus. Comparable independent-label model and artist-driven release approach, with similar audience overlap among classical collectors.
Broad incumbents
- Naxos Records: Largest independent classical music label globally, with extensive opera and rare repertoire coverage. Broad incumbent in the same recording space; competes for the same classical collector and institution buyer, but at much larger scale and across mainstream as well as niche repertoire.
- English National Opera: Major UK opera company producing rare and contemporary works. Comparable as a UK opera institution staging neglected repertoire, but at significantly larger scale and with government subsidy — a structural difference from Opera Rara's charity model.
- Glyndebourne Festival Opera: Leading UK opera festival with a history of reviving bel canto and rare repertoire. Comparable in performing forgotten operas with world-class artists, but operates a venue-led subscription model rather than a recording-and-charity model.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Opera Rara social profiles
Digital presenceOpera Rara financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Opera Rara leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
Opera Rara funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Opera Rara 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 Rara
What does Opera Rara do?
Opera Rara is a UK-registered opera charity and recording label that restores, records, performs, and promotes forgotten operatic heritage of the 19th and early 20th centuries. It delivers a catalogue of 60+ complete opera recordings, the multi-volume Donizetti Song Project (~200 songs), artist-focused collections, curated box sets, the Lives in Song podcast, and live productions of rarely performed operas in partnership with leading orchestras and artists.
Is Opera Rara a public or private company?
Opera Rara is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Opera Rara founded?
Opera Rara was founded in 1970. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Opera Rara based?
Opera Rara is headquartered in London, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Opera Rara make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Donations and Membership is the primary driver. The others are recording and Merchandise Sales, corporate Sponsorships and event Ticketing.
Who are Opera Rara's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Hyperion Records, Chandos Records, BIS Records, Harmonia Mundi and Signum Classics. Broad incumbents are Naxos Records, English National Opera and Glyndebourne Festival Opera.
Does Opera Rara have an API?
No public API is recorded for Opera Rara.
What industry is Opera Rara in?
Opera Rara's product category is Classical Music Recording & Opera Performance. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAGABAF, Opera & Operetta, with a secondary code of MPAIAAAG, Reissues, Remastering & Archive Services. Its NAICS code is 711190 and its SIC code is 3652.