Mission
Opera Southwest’s mission is to produce quality, professional, enjoyable and accessible opera in an intimate setting for audiences of all ages.
History
Opera Southwest was founded in 1972 as Albuquerque Opera Theatre by Dr. Edward T. Peter, Maestro Kurt Frederick and others. The 2022-23 season is Opera Southwest’s 50th year of producing world-class opera in Albuquerque. OSW is a professional, regional company producing two to three major operas per year selected from the best of the standard repertoire. To date OSW has produced over 120 major operas for hundreds of thousands of patrons, and we are especially proud to have mounted 23 world premieres including an opera based on Rudolfo Anaya’s blockbuster novel Bless Me, Ultima, which made its debut in February 2018. Opera Southwest’s mission stresses community and educational themes, and we have delighted more than 180,000 youngsters with outreach programs and exciting live theater. In this way, Opera Southwest ensures a loyal following in future years as these children grow into adulthood.
OSW in Our Community
Opera Southwest’s outreach programs provide an invaluable service by developing free or very low-cost presentations for school children and underserved individuals or groups. OSW knows that music education not only enriches the lives of everyone, but also markedly improves children’s academic performance.
Opera Southwest produces operas from the fall through the spring, which complements the Santa Fe Opera’s summer season, thereby making New Mexico one of the few states with year-round professional opera.
Quality of life is considered an important factor by many corporations interested in relocating to our state, and OSW believes that economic development is highly dependent on the quality of life a community provides. We are proud to contribute to an educated, cultured, and economically diverse community that strives for the highest quality of life for its citizens.
