On a modest budget of $135,000, OTSL’s first season presented works by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (“The Impresario”), Benjamin Britten (“Albert Herring”), Gian Carlo Menotti (“The Medium”) and Gaetano Donizetti (“Don Pasquale”). With its model inspired by the Santa Fe Opera, OTSL made a commitment to present all of its operas in English, even though most of them were written originally in other languages.

The fledgling company’s mission, then as now, was “to shape a vibrant future for opera by connecting, inspiring, and entertaining our communities through the power and beauty of the art form; to foster the next generation by empowering a diverse group of artists, artisans, and administrators at the highest level; and to make opera accessible and inclusive through innovative and collaborative storytelling that reflects, engages, and strengthens the St. Louis community, and attracts national and international audiences.”

That mission has served Opera Theatre well over the past five decades. Now, the internationally acclaimed company is ready for its 50th season performing at the Loretto-Hilton Center on the campus of Webster University (not counting a season missed due to the COVID-19 pandemic). It’s coming back to the beginning, too, with one of its four mainstage operas being a presentation of Donizetti’s “Don Pasquale,” its inaugural production in 1976.

That initial OTSL version of “Don Pasquale” was helmed by a young stage director named Christopher Alden. Half a century later, Alden is back at OTSL to direct an all-new staging of “Don Pasquale,” which has been performed at Opera Theatre just once, in 1998, since the debut season.

This season also includes productions of Britten’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” Johann Strauss II’s “Die Fledermaus,” and the world premiere of “This House,” composed by Ricky Ian Gordon and featuring a libretto by the mother-daughter combo of Lynn Nottage and Ruby Aliyo Gerber. Nottage is a two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright for “Ruined” in 2009 and “Sweat” in 2017. Her latest non-musical effort, “Clyde’s,” was produced at The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis in its 2024-25 season.

“This House” will be the 45th opera to receive its world premiere at Opera Theatre, a notable mark of achievement for the highly respected troupe. OTSL also has produced 27 American premieres in its seasons, which generally have consisted of four productions mounted annually in May and June. The 2025 season will run May 24 through June 29.

“We’re so excited to be celebrating Opera Theatre’s 50th season,” says Andrew Jorgensen, OTSL’s general director. “This is an extraordinary opportunity to reflect on all that we have accomplished in our first 50 years … bringing dozens of new operas to the stage, launching hundreds of careers, and impacting countless lives through the power of opera.”

Opera Theatre’s celebration of its golden anniversary season, “will continue beyond the 2025 Festival Season, with a year of programming that will highlight the invaluable community partnerships that have been key to OTSL’s success,” according to a press release.

In addition to its artistic achievements, earlier this spring Opera Theatre announced its purchase of the Caleres headquarters building in Clayton to build a new performing arts center. Previously, OTSL has performed most of its shows at the Loretto-Hilton Center since 1976.

Single ticket prices range from $25 to $149, with season ticket packages offering discounts. Additionally, Opera Theatre offers 50 free seats at every performance – a first on the national opera scene – thanks to the generous donation from the late Phyllis Brissenden, a long-time supporter and patron of Opera Theatre. “Phyllis’ Seats” can be reserved in weekly lotteries beginning May 19, 2025. 

Opera Theatre of St. Louis, 314-961-0644, opera-stl.org