Opera Theatre of St. Louis

The charitable arm of PNC Bank awarded $250,000 in grants to Dance St. Louis, Opera Theatre of St. Louis, the Black Rep and St. Louis ArtWorks.

Scott Joplin, the king of ragtime music, wrote an opera that lay dormant for decades. A new adaptation of “Treemonisha” at Opera Theatre of St. Louis shows that the composer blended influences from European opera and Black culture.

Opera Theatre of St. Louis will present three short operas, all by artists of color who’ve worked largely outside the opera world. The works address the roots of Black, queer ballroom culture; three important inventors who were Black women, and the Supreme Court battle over a rock band’s attempt to reappropriate a racial slur.

Third graders from Jefferson Elementary wrote an original libretto with support from Opera Theatre of St. Louis.

Opera Theatre of St. Louis will produce three short operas by artists of color who seek to expand the boundaries of American opera by incorporating new sounds and stories. A community panel of artists, most of whom work outside the opera field, selected the pieces.

“Music as the Message: Sing on, Sing on!” will include homegrown opera singer Adrienne Danrich, local musicians and singers from Opera Theatre of St. Louis.

Opera Theatre of St. Louis presents the world premiere of an opera based on neurologist Oliver Sacks' book "Awakenings." It's the first adaptation of his work to depict his sexuality frankly.

Opera Theatre of St. Louis debuts ‘Harvey Milk,’ ‘Awakenings’

When the coronavirus pandemic made large gatherings unsafe, performing arts groups took their work online as a last resort, despite misgivings. Many were surprised at how successful their digital programming turned out to be.

Opera Theatre of St. Louis will ask a 10-member panel, composed mostly of artists of color working outside the opera field, to commission nine short operas. A $750,000 grant from the Andrew F. Mellon Foundation will fund the program.