LA Opera
LA Opera is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit opera company founded in 1986, producing mainstage operas, concerts, recitals, and educational programs at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in Los Angeles for general audiences, students, donors, and corporate partners.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1986
- HeadquartersLos Angeles, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What LA Opera does
LA Opera is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit professional opera company founded in 1986 and headquartered in Los Angeles, California. The company performs at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, a 3,200-seat venue within The Music Center of Los Angeles County, and produces an annual season of mainstage operas, concerts, recitals, and an experimental Off Grand series. Its core offerings include flagship productions such as Carmen, The Magic Flute, Falstaff, Candide, and Nabucco, alongside community engagement programs that reach over 140,000 Angelenos annually through ensembles, school programs, student initiatives, and subsidized community seats. Underlying production infrastructure includes a mechanically operated three-part orchestra pit floor, a movable gold-leaf acoustical cloud, flexible staging, and a supertitles system.
LA Opera operates a hybrid revenue model combining earned revenue from ticket sales and multi-show subscription packages (Mini 3+, Classic 5 at $164+, ALL-IN 11 at $367+) with contributed revenue from individual donations, tiered memberships (Friends, Patrons, Opera Council), corporate sponsorships (notably GRoW @ Annenberg Foundation), and annual gala events such as Opera Ball. Ticket prices range from under $50 to over $300, but ticket sales cover less than half the cost of producing a season, making philanthropic support structurally essential. Go-to-market is direct-to-consumer through box office, e-commerce, season subscription packages, and community-led outreach, supported by digital marketing across web, email, and major social platforms.
The organization is currently in a leadership transition: James Conlon concluded a 20-year tenure as Richard Seaver Music Director in June 2026 with over 523 performances to his credit, transitioning to Conductor Laureate, while Domingo Hindoyan assumes the Music Director role. LA Opera is in its 40th Anniversary Season, supported by a multi-year fundraising campaign and an Opera Ball gala on October 17, 2026.
LA Opera firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- LA Opera
- Legal name
- Los Angeles Opera
- Website
- https://laopera.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1986
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- LA Opera is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit opera company founded in 1986, producing mainstage operas, concerts, recitals, and educational programs at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in Los Angeles for general audiences, students, donors, and corporate partners.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
LA Opera industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Opera and Live Performing Arts
- NAICS
- Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (711110), Performing Arts Companies (7111), Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events with Facilities (71131)
- SIC
- Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Musical Theatre (Non-Broadway/Fringe) (MPAGABAG)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- VIP Hospitality & Client Entertainment (Boxes, Suites, Hosted Experiences) (MPAGAHAG), Concert Halls & Music Venue Operations (Symphony Halls, Recital Venues) (MPAGALAC), Event Operations & Venue Services (Box Office, FOH/BOH, Concessions) (MPAIAFAL)
Keywords
Where LA Opera is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Los Angeles
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
LA Opera business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Ticket Sales: Primary revenue stream from individual performance tickets, with pricing ranging from under $50 to over $300. As a nonprofit, ticket sales cover less than half the cost of producing a season.
- Season Subscriptions and Packages: Revenue from multi-show packages including Mini Package (5% off), Classic 5 - All five Operas (15%+ off starting at $164), and ALL-IN 11 Show package (25%+ off starting at $367), providing fixed pricing and priority seating benefits.
- Individual Donations and Memberships: Tax-deductible donations through Friends of LA Opera, Patrons of LA Opera, and Opera Council membership tiers, supporting the company's 40th Anniversary Campaign and general operations.
- Corporate Partnerships: Sponsorship revenue from corporate partners including GRoW @ Annenberg Foundation, individual benefactors, and event sponsors for productions and galas.
- Gala Events: Revenue from special events including Opera Ball 2026 (gala celebration following Carmen opening night) and other fundraising events.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Under $50 |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | $50-$100 |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | $100-$150 |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | $150-$200 |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | $200-$250 |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | $250-$300 |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Over $300 |
| Subscription | Annual | Mini Package - 3+ Shows |
| Subscription | Annual | Classic 5 - All Five Mainstage Operas |
| Subscription | Annual | ALL-IN 11 Show Package |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
LA Opera product offering
Product offeringCore offering
LA Opera produces and presents live professional opera productions, concerts, recitals, and Off Grand experimental performances at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion and alternative venues in Los Angeles. Beyond mainstage performances, the organization delivers educational programs for schools and students, community ensembles for amateur participants, donor membership tiers, and annual fundraising galas, such as Opera Ball 2026. Ticket sales and subscription packages form the consumer-facing revenue core, with contributed donations, sponsorships, and galas closing the gap on the cost of producing a full season.
Product overview
LA Opera operates as a performing arts organization offering a multi-tiered product portfolio centered on opera productions and community engagement. The core offerings include mainstage operas at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion (Carmen, The Magic Flute, Falstaff, Candide, Nabucco), concerts and recitals (Renée Fleming with Béla Fleck, Jamie Barton), and Off Grand experimental performances (Hercules vs Vampires). Supporting these are education programs (For Schools and Teachers, For Students), community ensembles for amateur performers, and pre-show lectures. Revenue-generating programs include donor membership tiers and annual gala events such as Opera Ball. The 40th Anniversary Season represents a significant milestone campaign for the organization.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Off Grand: Off Grand performances featuring alternative and experimental opera productions
- Opera Ball
- Eva and Marc Stern Artist Award
- Recovered Voices
Products and services
- Mainstage Operas Full-scale professional opera productions staged at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion featuring internationally acclaimed singers, conductors, orchestras, and elaborate sets (Carmen, The Magic Flute, Falstaff, Candide, Nabucco).
- Concerts and Recitals Vocal concerts and recitals featuring renowned artists such as Renée Fleming with Béla Fleck and Jamie Barton, offered as intimate performances alongside the mainstage opera season.
- Off Grand Performances Experimental and innovative productions presented at alternative venues beyond the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, such as Hercules vs Vampires.
- Community Ensembles Performance opportunities for community members to participate in ensembles across venues of various sizes throughout LA County, enabling amateur musicians to engage with opera.
- For Schools and Teachers Program Educational programming where students learn about opera history, experience full-scale productions, and interact with professional teaching artists, designed for elementary through university teachers.
- For Students Program Student-focused programming including performances, events, and discounted tickets designed for young audiences and educational engagement.
- Community Seats Subsidized ticket program providing access to opera performances for community members who might otherwise be unable to attend.
- Pre-Show Lectures Educational talks held one hour prior to showtime covering opera history, plot, and background to enhance audience understanding.
- Donor Membership Programs Tiered donor membership programs including Friends of LA Opera, Patrons of LA Opera, and Opera Council, offering benefits such as rehearsal tickets and backstage tours through tax-deductible contributions.
- Opera Ball Annual gala celebration event for LA Opera, with the 2026 Opera Ball scheduled for October 17, 2026 following the opening night of Carmen.
- Season Subscription Packages Multi-show subscription packages including Mini Package (3+ shows at 5% off), Classic 5 (all five mainstage operas starting at $164 with 15%+ off), and ALL-IN 11 Show Package starting at $367 (25%+ off), with priority seating, free exchanges, and parking benefits.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 140,000 community members engaged annually through LA Opera Connects programs
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use LA Opera
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
LA Opera technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration5 records
Feature3 records
LA Opera partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and strategic.
- The Music Center of Los Angeles CountycoreLA Opera's home at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, part of The Music Center complex. The Music Center provides venue infrastructure, facilities management, and co-marketing opportunities for performing arts programming.
- 1927 (Theater Company)strategicBritish theater company collaborating with Barrie Kosky on The Magic Flute productions, integrating live performance with animation in a unique staging aesthetic inspired by silent film and music hall traditions.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
LA Opera competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- New York City Opera: Nonprofit opera company with a contemporary-repertoire reputation and educational outreach; comparable donor-driven funding model and audience-development mission.
- San Francisco Opera: Fellow major West Coast US opera company producing a full season at the War Memorial Opera House. Comparable scale, nonprofit structure, donor-dependent funding, and audience development model.
- Lyric Opera of Chicago: Major US regional opera company producing full-scale productions at the Lyric Opera House with a comparable nonprofit, donor-funded model and similar classical-plus-contemporary repertoire strategy.
- Houston Grand Opera: Major US regional opera company with comparable artistic ambition, educational programming, and nonprofit funding model; produces a full season including contemporary American works.
- San Diego Opera: Another California-based nonprofit opera company with a similar mid-size season, classical repertoire focus, and community/education programs overlapping with LA Opera's outreach strategy.
- Seattle Opera: Major US regional opera company producing a full season at McCaw Hall; comparable scale, donor dependence, and Ring Cycle pedigree (Wagner) that mirrors LA Opera's ambitions in large-canvas German repertoire.
- Boston Lyric Opera: Mid-size nonprofit opera company producing a season in Boston; comparable mission of audience expansion, educational outreach, and donor-supported programming.
- Opera Philadelphia: Nonprofit regional opera company known for innovative festival programming and audience-development work that parallels LA Opera's Off Grand and 'first-time opera goer' initiatives.
Broad incumbents
- Metropolitan Opera: The largest US opera company and a global incumbent; overlaps with LA Opera's repertoire but at substantially greater scale and with a much larger endowment, making it a benchmark rather than a direct head-to-head competitor.
Others
- The Music Center (Los Angeles County): The campus operator of the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion and LA Opera's venue landlord; an infrastructure partner rather than competitor, but a critical dependency for LA Opera's live performance operations.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
LA Opera social profiles
Digital presenceLA Opera financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
LA Opera leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
LA Opera funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
LA 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 LA Opera
What does LA Opera do?
LA Opera produces and presents live professional opera productions, concerts, recitals, and Off Grand experimental performances at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion and alternative venues in Los Angeles. Beyond mainstage performances, the organization delivers educational programs for schools and students, community ensembles for amateur participants, donor membership tiers, and annual fundraising galas, such as Opera Ball 2026. Ticket sales and subscription packages form the consumer-facing revenue core, with contributed donations, sponsorships, and galas closing the gap on the cost of producing a full season.
Is LA Opera a public or private company?
LA Opera is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was LA Opera founded?
LA Opera was founded in 1986. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is LA Opera based?
LA Opera is headquartered in Los Angeles, United States, in the North America region.
How does LA Opera make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Ticket Sales are the primary driver. The others are season Subscriptions and Packages, individual Donations and Memberships, corporate Partnerships and gala Events.
Who are LA Opera's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are New York City Opera, San Francisco Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Houston Grand Opera, San Diego Opera, Seattle Opera, Boston Lyric Opera and Opera Philadelphia. Metropolitan Opera is listed as a broad incumbent. The Music Center (Los Angeles County) is listed as an others.
Does LA Opera have an API?
No public API is recorded for LA Opera.
What industry is LA Opera in?
LA Opera's product category is Opera and Live Performing Arts. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAGABAG, Musical Theatre (Non-Broadway/Fringe), with a secondary code of MPAGAHAG, VIP Hospitality & Client Entertainment (Boxes, Suites, Hosted Experiences). Its NAICS code is 711110 and its SIC code is 7990.