New Orleans Opera Association

A legacy of innovation, a tradition of excellence, a reflection of America: New Orleans Opera Association (NOOA), founded in 1943, is committed to enriching the lives of all people by producing opera of the highest artistic quality and providing educational opportunities through traditional and innovative approaches. NOOA aspires to connect people to the arts and each other through the joy of opera.

New Orleans Opera exists to entertain, inspire and educate our city and our state through the production and performance of opera. We believe in the power of opera to express our most visceral stories, expanding our capacity for wonder, laughter, and humanity and bringing audiences together for shared experiences that transport and delight. We honor our responsibility as bearers of a three-hundred-year legacy of presenting European and American premieres in the Crescent City, the gateway to opera for the nation; we celebrate the unique linguistic and cultural heritage of our city through our programming, people, and practices. Our mission extends beyond the stage, as we enrich the cultural landscape of our community through inclusive education, outreach, and partnerships that foster a love for the arts. We believe in showing up in places where our audiences can meet us, performing grand operas in formal theaters and melodic fantasies in unexpected corners with equal love and excitement.

New Orleans Opera Festival

The inaugural New Orleans Opera Festival, which debuted in March of 2026, sought to celebrate the city's rich operatic history while redefining its present, bringing opera out of the box and into the vibrant heart of the French Quarter. Over the course of one week, this festival explored Dialogues des Carmélites' powerful true story of fear and faith with a site-specific production at the Ursuline Convent; enchanted audiences with unforgettable evening of timeless music from Show Boat aboard the City of New Orleans Riverboat; showcased South African soprano Golda Schultz at the height of her artistry in an intimate recital; and paired Carlisle Floyd's operatic song cycle with New Orleans' deep-rooted jazz traditions in Pilgrimage, a walking, multi-venue journey through the French Quarter.

With your help, we can build upon the success of the inaugural festival by expanding this event into an annual tradition, thus honoring the deep-seated history of opera in New Orleans by inspiring audiences, keeping opera accessible to the New Orleans community, and supporting local artists, musicians, and production crews.

Testimonials

"Thrilled to have been a part of this new tradition and hope to come back for many years."

"We had a lovely time, and it was well worth the trip from Colorado!"

"The festival represents the future of Opera in New Orleans! Especially when the survival of opera in general is at risk."