Fort Worth Opera Festival

Mission    To educate, entertain, and expand the horizons of current and future audiences and artists through variety and artistic integrity. And to become recognized internationally as an organization that preserves and expands the transcending Art of opera. History     Over coffee one morning in 1946, Mrs. E L. (Eloise) Snyder and Mrs. August (Betty) Spain, both former opera singers, and Mrs. Jeanne Axtell Walker decided it was time for Fort Worth to launch an opera company of its own. With the help of hundreds of community volunteers, these ladies pulled off what many thought to be an impossible feat, bringing together all of the necessary elements for a first-class opera production in just seven months. The Fort Worth Civic Opera Association, as it was then called, opened with its first production, La Traviata, on November 25 of that year. From these inspired beginnings, Fort Worth Opera has continued to provide countless memorable performances. Who could forget the 1962 production of Lucia? Not only did Placido Domingo star in his first major operatic role in America in this production, but Lily Pons also delivered her farewell operatic performance. And, two years later, Beverly Sills' debut in Galatea left Fort Worth and the world clamoring for more. In July of 2001, Fort Worth Opera hired a new general director, Darren K. Woods. Darren brought with him energy, enthusiasm, and a vast knowledge of the opera business. The 2002/03 season was Darren’s first at Fort Worth Opera. During that season, the company revamped it’s image with a new logo, new look, new strategic direction, new mission statement and a passion statement to capture the company’s enthusiasm for great opera in Fort Worth. After 60 years of producing opera over the fall and winter, Fort Worth Opera announced in February of 2007, another change of even greater magnitude: it will condense its entire schedule to an annual spring festival – with all of its operas and concerts being presented over a four week period. The inaugural Fort Worth Opera Festival is scheduled to commence in May 2007. The 2007 Festival will be in lieu of a fall/winter schedule for 2006/2007.