About Us
Mission Statement
The primary mission of Opera Idaho is to fund and produce opera of the highest possible professional standard, in Boise and throughout the State of Idaho, and to foster wider acceptance, appreciation and enjoyment of opera and related art forms in young people and adults of all social and economic backgrounds, through diverse educational and outreach programs.
History of Opera Idaho
Although Opera Idaho has been in existence, under one name or another, since 1973, the story of opera in Boise begins before that. As long ago as the early 1960’s, the Boise Philharmonic annually presented modestly produced operas featuring singers drawn from around the region. Other groups also produced small-scale operas from time to time. Sometimes the works presented were classics; sometimes they were more adventuresome.
In the late 1960’s opera presentations in Boise became less numerous, when the Philharmonic discontinued its annual productions. In response, Mrs. Hazel Weston and a large group of local opera enthusiasts formed the Boise Opera Workshop. The workshop’s initial goal is described in a contemporary story from the Idaho Statesman as being “acquaint both musicians and audience with a great many operas, without the expense involved in staging a grand opera.” Early activities of the organization included workshop productions, monthly public lecture programs and group study of selected operatic works.
In 1973, reflecting the success of its initial efforts and the increasing emphasis on producing grand opera, the Boise Opera Workshop changed its name to Boise Civic Opera. By-laws were written and the organization was formally incorporated.
By the 1977-78 season, Boise Civic Opera had begun to import professional singers to perform the principal roles in some of its productions. That year, the future star Kathryn Bouleyn was among the first professional artists, when she appeared as Violetta, in the company’s 1977 production of Guiseppe Verdi’s La Traviata.
In 1983, the name was changed again, this time to Boise Opera, in order to recognize the increasing professionalism of the company’s productions. In the mid 1980’s Boise Opera added to its classic opera performances by presenting international opera stars in concert. Marilyn Horne and Sherill Milnes were among those artists. Presented by Boise Opera, Ms. Horne gave the concert that opened the Morrison Center for the Performing Arts. With the 1984-85 season, Boise Opera moved its main stage productions into the Morrison Center. The Morrison Center has been the venue for the opera ever since.
In 1987 Boise Opera was recognized as an important element in the city’s cultural life when mayor Dirk Kempthorne declared the week of January 26th to be Boise Opera Week in the city of Boise.
During the early 1990’s, Boise Opera continued to produce classic grand opera at the Morrison center, and also added the occasional musical comedy. During the 1993-94 season, Boise Opera added operettas to it repertoire.
Also during this decade, the company began to build educational and outreach programs, which, by 2000, would offer experience of and training in lyric theater to children and adults. This included the Opera Idaho Children’s Chorus, which was formally founded in 1993.
In 1997 the company changed its name again to Opera Idaho. The reasons for the change were two-fold. The first, to recognize the opera as the only professional company of its kind in the state, and second to recognize the ambition to reach out to other areas of Idaho, beyond the Treasure Valley.
After the late 1990’s, Opera Idaho went through many changes. New ideas and techniques were experimented with to find the niche that the opera was looking for in Idaho.
In the 2004-05 season, Opera Idaho showed its success and growth with the World Premier of Nosferatu.
