Opera Fuoco

What Opera Fuoco does

Opera Fuoco is a French non-profit opera company founded in 2003 by conductor David Stern in Paris. It operates as a period-instrument ensemble and young-artist training institution, specializing in Baroque, Classical, and early Romantic opera repertoire. The core offering centers on the Young Artists Program (Atelier Lyrique), which trains vocalists through masterclasses and full-scale productions alongside the Opera Fuoco Orchestra, a period-instrument ensemble of roughly 39–43 musicians. Two specialized sub-programs extend the platform: Fuoco Obbligato, a chamber ensemble founded in 2020 by concertmaster Katharina Wolff that pairs young singers with instrumental soloists for intimate 18th-century repertoire, and Fuoco Jazz, which explores improvisation, jazz standards, blues, and bossa nova within a classical framework.

The company produces concerts and operas at French venues including the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées, Opéra de Massy (its residency partner), Philharmonie de Paris, and Théâtre de Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, and tours internationally across China, Sweden, Austria, Germany, and Belgium. Its educational and cultural-transmission programs, including the HERCULES outreach project supported by the Bettencourt-Schueller Foundation, reach approximately 300 children and families annually.

Revenue is generated through a diversified non-profit model: ticket and concert sales, commercial CD and recording sales distributed via streaming platforms, the Friends Circle donation program (with tax-deductible status available in France and in the US via the King Baudouin Foundation/American Friends of Opera Fuoco), institutional grants from the French Ministry of Culture, the Île-de-France region, and the Centre National de la Musique, and recurring grants from private foundations including the GRoW Annenberg Foundation, Danny and Sylvia Fine Kaye Foundation, Len Ari Foundation, Mitchell Wolfson Foundation, and Bettencourt-Schueller Foundation. Governance is provided by a Board of Directors led by President Philippe Alter, with artistic direction by David Stern and Katharina Wolff.

Name

Opera Fuoco

Legal name

Opera Fuoco

Website

https://operafuoco.fr

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Opera Fuoco is a Paris-based non-profit period-instrument opera company and young-artist training program founded in 2003 by David Stern, serving audiences and emerging vocalists through baroque and classical productions, chamber and jazz sub-programs, and educational outreach across France and Europe.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Opera and classical music performance

NAICS

Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (711110), Other Performing Arts Companies (711190), Performing Arts Companies (7111)

akta.pro primary industry

Opera & Operetta (MPAGABAF)

akta.pro secondary industry

Theater & Drama Education (Acting, Improvisation, Musical Theater) (EDAMAAAG)

Keywords

• Period-instrument opera
• Young artists program
• Baroque classical repertoire
• Opera training program
• Chamber music ensemble

Headquarters

HQ city

Paris

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Donations and Private Support: The Friends Circle pools private donors, foundations and companies to support company activities. Donations are 66% tax-deductible for private donors and 60% tax-deductible for companies in France. US donors can give through the American Friends of Opera Fuoco via the King Baudouin Foundation with tax-deductible receipts.
2. Institutional Grants: Annual grants from foundations including GRoW Annenberg Foundation, Danny and Sylvia Fine Kaye Foundation, Len Ari Foundation, Mitchell Wolfson Foundation, and Mr Richard Divine. Also supported by French Ministry of Culture, Ile-de-France region, and National Music Center.
3. Ticket Sales and Concert Revenue: Revenue from opera productions, concerts, and encounter-concerts performed at various venues in France and internationally
4. CD and Recording Sales: Commercial recordings including L'amor conjugale, Berenice che fai?, French Romantic Cantatas, Zanaïda, Jephtha, and Semele

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Opera Fuoco is a French period-instrument opera company that produces and performs Baroque, Classical, and early Romantic opera works using historically-informed performance practices on period instruments. The company also runs the Atelier Lyrique, a Young Artists Program that trains aspiring opera singers, and offers educational outreach through its Cultural Transmission Program to introduce opera to school children.

Product overview

Opera Fuoco is a French opera company founded in 2003 by David Stern, operating as a performing arts organization with a unified portfolio of programs. The core offering centers on the Young Artists Program (Atelier Lyrique), which trains young opera singers through masterclasses and full-scale productions with the Opera Fuoco Orchestra—a period-instrument ensemble specializing in baroque, classical, and early romantic repertoire. Two specialized sub-programs extend the portfolio: Fuoco Obbligato (chamber ensemble, founded 2020) provides an intimate performance platform for young artists, while Fuoco Jazz explores jazz and improvisation. The company also produces commercial recordings (CDs/videos), delivers educational outreach programs to schools and communities, and stages operas and concerts at venues across France and internationally. The portfolio operates as a single unified offering under artistic leadership, with institutional support from French Ministry of Culture, Île-de-France region, and private foundations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Fuoco Obbligato: Chamber ensemble founded in 2020 by violinist Katharina Wolff, combining Opera Fuoco's young singers and instrumental soloists for intimate performances of baroque opera, oratorio, passions and Lied.
• Fuoco Jazz
• L'Atelier Lyrique (Young Artists Program)

Products and services

• Opera Fuoco Productions Period-instrument opera performances of Baroque, Classical, and early Romantic repertoire produced by the Opera Fuoco ensemble in Paris and on international tour.
• Atelier Lyrique (Young Artists Program) A training program for young opera singers offering vocal coaching and performance opportunities in historically-informed opera repertoire with the Opera Fuoco ensemble.
• Fuoco Obbligato A chamber music ensemble subsidiary of Opera Fuoco, performing in the historically-informed style.
• Fuoco Jazz A jazz ensemble subsidiary of Opera Fuoco.
• Cultural Transmission Program Educational outreach program that introduces opera and classical music to school children, supported by French cultural authorities.
• Concert Recordings (CDs) Audio recordings of Opera Fuoco's period-instrument opera and concert performances sold commercially.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 300 children and families reached per season through outreach programs
• +2 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and major.

• Opéra de MassycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOpera Fuoco is in partnership with Opéra de Massy. The Young Artists Program is in residence there, and they co-produce major productions including Le Retour d'Ulysse and La Passion selon Saint Matthieu.
• FEVISminorOthersMember of the Fédération des Ensembles Vocaux et Instrumentaux Spécialisés - national network of specialized vocal and instrumental ensembles.
• ProfedimminorOthersMember of the Syndicat Professionnel des Producteurs, Festivals, Ensembles, Diffuseurs Indépendants de Musique.
• Opera EuropaminorOthersJunior member of Opera Europa, the European opera professional association.
• Philharmonie de PariscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on Bach en Scat, BACH+, and other educational outreach concerts. Opera Fuoco participates in participatory concert series at this major Parisian cultural venue.
• Compagnie Par Terre / Anne NguyenmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for choreography and movement in BACH EN SCAT project and Le Retour d'Ulysse production, translating musical counterpoint into dance.
• Château d'Ecouen - Musée National de la RenaissancemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMuseum partner for HERCULES outreach project, providing thematic visits and cultural context for students.
• Swedish Chamber OrchestracoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on La Bohème chamber version production, performing in Sweden at Örebro Konserthus and Stockholm Folkoperan.
• Tölzer KnabenchorminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on B-minor Mass recording and performances under David Stern's direction.
• Shanghai Symphony OrchestraminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on Didon & Aeneas with young talents from Shanghai Conservatory.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Il Pomo d'Oro: An Italian period-instrument orchestra and opera ensemble performing Baroque and Classical opera. Comparable to Opera Fuoco in repertoire, period-instrument specialization, and integration with young vocalist training programs.
• Monteverdi Choir and English Baroque Soloists: Founded by John Eliot Gardiner, this period-instrument ensemble and choir perform Baroque and Classical repertoire including opera. Comparable to Opera Fuoco in artistic mission, period-instrument focus, and large-scale touring.
• Freiburger Barockorchester: German period-instrument ensemble performing Baroque opera and orchestral repertoire with associated vocal soloists and choir. Comparable to Opera Fuoco in repertoire, period-instrument specialization, and German/European institutional ties.
• Le Concert d'Astrée: Founded by Emmanuelle Haïm, Le Concert d'Astrée is a French period-instrument ensemble performing Baroque opera, oratorio, and sacred music. Closely comparable to Opera Fuoco in artistic scope, French institutional base, and integration of vocal and instrumental training.
• Les Arts Florissants: Founded by William Christie, Les Arts Florissants is a French-based period-instrument ensemble and vocal ensemble specializing in Baroque opera and oratorio. Directly comparable to Opera Fuoco in repertoire, geographic base, and mission of pairing young artists with period instruments.
• Les Talens Lyriques: Founded by Christophe Rousset, Les Talens Lyriques is a French period-instrument ensemble performing opera seria and Baroque/Classical repertoire. Comparable to Opera Fuoco in artistic approach, French cultural ecosystem, and the combination of vocal/instrumental programming.
• Pygmalion: Founded by Raphaël Pichon, Pygmalion is a French vocal and instrumental ensemble performing Baroque and Classical repertoire with period instruments. Comparable to Opera Fuoco in mission, French institutional base, and rising international profile.
• Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin: German period-instrument orchestra performing Baroque, Classical, and early Romantic repertoire including opera productions. Comparable to Opera Fuoco in repertoire range, period-instrument specialization, and European institutional partnerships.

Others

• Opéra de Massy: French regional opera house and Opera Fuoco's core residency partner. Directly comparable as a venue partner for French opera productions, though Opéra de Massy operates as a larger institutional opera house rather than a touring period-instrument ensemble.
• Centre de Musique Baroque de Versailles: French institution dedicated to research, training, and performance of Baroque repertoire. Comparable to Opera Fuoco as a French ecosystem participant in the same Baroque music niche, though operating as an institutional/educational body rather than a performing ensemble.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/opera-fuoco

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Opera Fuoco